AAA Minnesota/Iowa Supports Primary Enforcement of Seat Belts

What is the current law? In Minnesota, state statute mandates seat belt use, but enforcement is a secondary offense. In Iowa, state statute mandates seat belt use as well, but enforcement is a primary offense. Inconsistency between Minnesota and Iowa’s seat belt laws reflect the inconsistency seen nationwide concerning this issue. 

What is the problem with Minnesota’s current law and what change does AAA Minnesota/Iowa seek? The difference between a primary enforcement offense and a secondary enforcement offense is significant. Minnesota’s secondary enforcement law means you can be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt only if you are pulled over for another driving offense. However, Iowa’s primary enforcement law means you can be pulled over for not wearing your seat belt even if you are not violating another law. 

Why is this change important? Simply put- wearing your seat belt can save your life, other people’s lives (you are a loose projectile in the car if you are not wearing your seat belt) and a great deal of money by reducing deaths and injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we are unlikely to see further significant increases in seat belt use without this change. The Minnesota Safety Council (MSC) believes primary seat belt legislation is the quickest and most cost effective way to save lives and money. Furthermore, Minnesota’s seat belt law is the state’s only traffic law that is not subject to primary enforcement.

Important facts obtained from the Minnesota Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 

1. Wearing a seat belt reduces your chances of death, on average, by 50 percent.
2. Crash victims who do not wear their seat belt have medical expenses 50 percent higher than those who do wear them.
3. Society bears 74 percent of those increased medical costs through higher insurance premiums, taxes and healthcare costs.
4. Estimates show that a primary seat belt law could save 51 lives, prevent 1000 injuries, and save nearly $128 million each year in Minnesota.

Counter arguments:
      Seat belt use is a personal freedom issue and forcing people to wear their seat belt infringes on their constitutional rights. Not true. Wearing a seat belt affects the physical safety and financial well being of other people. Furthermore, driving is a privilege, not a right, and traffic laws are intended for the best interest of all Minnesotans. 
    If Minnesota enacts the primary enforcement seat belt law, more cases of police abuse and harassment will occur especially for minorities. Not true. According to the NHTSA, other states that enacted primary seat belt enforcement have not shown any statistical increases. In fact, many prominent national minority groups support this legislation. 
     People who do not wear a seat belt now will not be more inclined to wear a seat belt if the law is enacted. Not true. According to the MSC, every state that has enacted the primary enforcement law has seen a 10-15 percent increase in seat belt use regardless of their use rate prior to the law being enacted.