Seat Belts
Va. Code 46.2-1094 — a $25 civil penalty, and no stop for it alone
In Virginia, the driver and every other occupant 18 or older wear the safety belt system whenever the vehicle is moving on a public highway. The driver ensures that children up to age eight are secured in a child restraint device in the back seat, facing rearward until at least two years of age or the device maker's minimum forward-facing weight, and that other passengers under 18 wear a safety belt.
No officer may stop a vehicle for a belt violation. No law-enforcement officer may stop a motor vehicle for a violation of the adult belt section, and no evidence found as a result of such a stop is admissible, even evidence obtained with the driver's consent.
An adult belt violation is a civil penalty of twenty-five dollars, with no demerit points and no court costs. Neither a belt nor a child seat violation is negligence, reduces damages, or can be mentioned in a civil suit over the crash.
Sources for this section (2)
- Va. Code 46.2-1094 — Occupants of seats of motor vehicles required to use safety belts
- Va. Code 46.2-1095 — Child restraint devices required when transporting certain children
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.