GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	4 

HOUSE BILL 344*
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/29/97
Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 4/30/97
Senate Transportation Committee Substitute Adopted 7/14/97

Short Title:  Motor Vehicle Occupant Restraints.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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February 26, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENHANCE MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SAFETY. 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-135.2A(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Each occupant who is 16 years of age or older and each driver of a passenger motor vehicle manufactured with seat safety belts shall have such a safety belt properly fastened about his body at all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway in this State. "
Section 2.  G.S. 20-135.2A(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e)	Any driver or passenger who fails to wear a seat belt as required by this section shall have committed an infraction and shall pay a penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00).  A person found responsible for a violation of this section may not be assessed court costs."
Section 3.  G.S. 20-137.1(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Every driver who is transporting a passenger of less than 16 years of age shall have the passenger properly secured in an age-appropriate passenger restraint system.
When a child is less than five years of age and less than 60 pounds in weight, the requirements of this section shall be met by securing the child in a car safety seat which meets federal standards applicable at the time of its manufacture.  The car safety seat shall be secured in a rear seat of the vehicle if the vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a car safety seat.
When a child is five years of age or older or is 60 pounds or more in weight, the requirements of this section may be met by securing the child in a seat safety belt."
Section 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.