HB 1156 Summary

• Amends North Dakota Century Code section 39-21-41.4 to require drivers to wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belts in motor vehicles designed for fewer than eleven passengers that were originally manufactured with safety belts.

• Adds new exemption for operators or passengers of vehicles that stop frequently to allow temporary exits or property delivery, applicable only when traveling at speeds not exceeding 30 miles per hour between stops.

• Provides civil liability protection for physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses who in good faith issue statements that safety belt restraint would be inappropriate for a patient.

• Specifies that safety belt violations are not admissible as evidence of negligence in any legal proceeding except those charging the violation itself.