Is it illegal to have a passenger sleeping in the back seat without a seat belt on in California?

My wife and I recently went on a trip with some friends to California. Driving through East Riverside County. We were pulled over because my friends license plate lamp was out, which he didn't know. My wife was in the back seat of the van, sleeping without her seat belt on. The officer asked me who was sleeping in the back seat, I informed him it was my wife, to which he then issued her a citation for not having her seat belt on. Anyone know if there is anything that excempts certain situations from that law or if it is just another way for California to get money from people?

jik1219jik1219

Sure it is! The law clearly states that a person or persons may ride in a motor vehicle unrestrained so long as they are unconscious and and positioned in such a way that they don't see the collision before impact and death.

I'm sorry but this one really cracked me up! Kinda like she would have been had you hit something.

This is right up there with the question about what happens when you hit a wall at 50 km/h.

I would think the seat belt laws pretty much pertain to anytime a human being is riding in a motor vehicle.

Did you really have to ask this or were you just trying to entertain the rest of us?

UCANTCME

Existing law prohibits any person 16 years of age or over from being a passenger in a private passenger motor vehicle on a highway unless that person is properly restrained by a safety belt.

No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person and all passengers 16 years of age or over are properly restrained by a safety belt.

No person 16 years of age or over shall be a passenger in a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person is properly restrained by a safety belt. This subdivision does not apply to a passenger in a sleeper berth, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 1201 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations.

http://www.mrtraffic.com/seatbelt.htm

kelly_f_1999

yep they in car they wear seat belt thats the law and its like that in every state

Dimo J

In my opinion people should be allowed to be unsafe if they so choose. But my opinion doesn't matter. The whole world has gone crazy trying to protect people from their own actions. One such craziness being mandatory use of seat belts. The law requires such and the only exemption for a sleeping person is in the sleeper of a semi.

It is not that they are trying to get your money; it is that they are trying to get you to do a very minor action that could save your or your wife's life.

robbyswifey08

uhh yeah it is illegal.....

rapierlynx

It's not only illegal, it's STOOPID!

If you had gotten into a crash, she would have smashed into the back of your seat and quite possibly killed you and her!

sss

welcome to california, its all about "revenue"

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: