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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2064 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1699
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul R. Feeney
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a primary seat belt law.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul R. FeeneyBristol and NorfolkJames B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/4/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2064 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1699
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1699) of Paul R. Feeney and James
B. Eldridge for legislation to establish a primary seat belt law. Public Safety and Homeland
Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1521 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a primary seat belt law.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 13A of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in the
3place thereof the following paragraph:-
4 Any person who operates a motor vehicle without a safety belt, and any person 16 years
5of age or over who rides as a passenger in a motor vehicle without wearing a safety belt in
6violation of this section, shall be subject to a fine of 50 dollars. Any operator of a motor vehicle
7shall be subject to an additional fine of 50 dollars for each person under the age of 16 and no
8younger than 12 who is a passenger in said motor vehicle and not wearing a safety belt. The
9provisions of this section shall be enforced by law enforcement agencies when an operator of a
10motor vehicle or passenger who rides in the motor vehicle is not wearing a safety belt in 2 of 2
11violation of motor vehicle laws. Safety belt violations will not result in surcharges on motor
12vehicle insurance premiums, and a police officer may not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its
13contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of this section. Fees derived
14from primary seat belt citations shall be deposited in the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust
15Fund established in Section 59 of Chapter 10.
16 SECTION 2. The provisions of Section 1 shall take effect 180 days from the effective
17date of this act.