Seat belts

[stan's52]

I am trying to find some information on seat belts. Since my 52 plymouth did not come with seat belts are they required to be installed? I also have a 64 ford F100, and a 54 chevy 1 1/2 ton truck that did not come with belts. If I wanted to install belts I read the wrecking yards can't sell used belts. This is for california vehicles. Thanks for any info. stan

[TodFitch]

http://search.dmv.org/dmv/california/seat-belt-requirements

That looks like a non-official site. I usually go directly to the state's motor vehicle code when I have a question. For California you'll be looking for http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm

Division 12 is for equipment. I think the particular place you are looking at is in http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27314.htm

27314. (a) No dealer shall sell or offer for sale any used passenger vehicle that was manufactured on or after January 1, 1962, other than a motorcycle, unless it is equipped with at least two seatbelts which are installed for the use of persons in the front seat of the vehicle.

( No dealer shall sell or offer for sale any used passenger vehicle manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, other than a motorcycle, unless it is equipped with seatbelts for each seating position.

© Seatbelts required in subdivisions (a) and ( shall comply with regulations established by the department.

(d) The requirements of this section shall not apply to sales to dealers, automobile dismantlers, or junk dealers.

Amended Ch. 723, Stats. 1979. Effective January 1, 1980.

Happens to be for used vehicles but if you don't have to have them in the car to sell it I think it is legal to drive it without them in. However it is a bit unclear as the section requiring the use of seatbelts at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27315.htm does not give an exemption when riding in a vehicle that is not required to have seatbelts because of its age.

Edited February 21, 2012 by TodFitch

[Powerhouse]

I think if it doesn't have them in any car pre-68 you are not required to install them. BUT if you do have them in the pre-68 car and do not use them...I believe you can get fined. But not sure. I installed them in my car...a little safer now...but I have heard of people surviving accidents because they didn't have seat belts.

[desoto1939]

If you car did not have seatbelts when it was manufactured then you are not required to have them installed.

Think of this way. Our prewar cars did not have any smog devices or anti polution devices so we do not have to meet the emmissions requirements.

But check with your state. In the california law I would read as this, Since there was a specific year inwhich seat belts were mandatory then all cars starting with that year and going foward must have installed seatbelts to meet the state and federal laws. Prior that year then not required. Same for turn signals. but most guys install them anyway just to be safe. Most people do not understand the old hand signal system they think you are flipping the bird to left when making a right hand turn. Just think about that hand movement and you will get the picture.

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[msawdey44]

Don't know whether other states have laws like that in California, prohibiting sale of used seat belts--but prudence would suggest buying new ones in any case. They are, afterall, cloth, and they lose strength with age--just like the rest of us. Besides, the mounting hardware on a factory-installed belt is designed to go into the built-in mounts in the car floor. To install in vehicles in our age range you'll need a set of hardware that includes reinforcing plates that go under the hole you drill in the floor.

[austinsailor]

I'm guessing it varies from state to state, but when I took my 40 Dodge sedan to Texas, I asked my local patrolman that question. He didn't know, called another. They got out the code book, and after half an hour of trying to decipher it, we finally found that if it was originally made with seat belt mounts, it had to have them and they had to be used. If no mounts were factory installed, they weren't required. It didn't matter if the factory installed the belts, the mounts were the deciding factor.

I will say, it's not easy to get answers to what should be simple questions like this.

[Captain Neon]

I'm guessing it varies from state to state, but when I took my 40 Dodge sedan to Texas, I asked my local patrolman that question. He didn't know, called another. They got out the code book, and after half an hour of trying to decipher it, we finally found that if it was originally made with seat belt mounts, it had to have them and they had to be used. If no mounts were factory installed, they weren't required. It didn't matter if the factory installed the belts, the mounts were the deciding factor.

I will say, it's not easy to get answers to what should be simple questions like this.

Which is why state troopers in Hillbilly Hell can get away with issuing tickets to people with out of state plates for passing a vehicle on the right when the vehicle passed was waiting to make a left hand turn. Jefferson Davis Hogg and Roscoe Purvis Coltrane wouldn't be so funny if it wasn't all so true. Rural America is a scarey place to be if you haven't lived there for over 30 years. Outlanders are only welcome in North Central Missouri during deer hunting season. Not a day earlier or a day later.

[Plymouthy Adams]

that is true of any location in regard to out of towners...I can quote a number of instances where they try this stuff...I have also had a number of these tickets thrown out by judges and sheriffs when approached with your sideof the sotry and a witness to the fact the gestapo was taking advantage of the fact the offender will not be available to face his accuser in court..actually, I have seen this more in cities of ample size than in any small rural area..but then I will admit if you live in a city and get your tickets in the country and live in the country and get your tickets in the city how each person will feel the way they do..