Kansas Seat Belt Laws

Seat belts are required in nearly all motorized vehicles in Kansas.fasten seat belt image by enens from Fotolia.com

The state of Kansas generally requires that all people wear seat belts when riding in an automobile. Buses that carry more than 10 passengers are exempt. In most cases, child seats are also required for children. According to state law, a person cannot be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt; a person can only be cited in connection with another offense.

Basic Requirements

According to Kansas State law as last amended in 2003, anyone driving or riding in a motorized vehicle must wear a seat belt. The standard seat belt that comes with vehicles are generally acceptable.
The law applies to anyone in the front seat of passenger cars, vans and certain trucks. The law applies to all vehicles in the state, regardless of where the vehicle is registered or where the driver is from.
Drivers may not be cited unless there is another violation except at the scene of an accident. Passengers must be cited separately from the driver. The law does not specifically state that people in the back seat have to wear seat belts.

Children under the age of four must be in a federally approved child safety seat. Children between the ages of four and eight who weigh less than 80 pounds must be in a federally approved child safety seat or booster seat. Children older than eight but younger than 14 must wear a seat belt regardless of which seat they occupy.
The law does not apply to school buses or vehicles designed to carry more than 10 people. Drivers must also wear seat belts. Only the driver of the vehicle may be ticketed, and it is a single violation regardless of how many children are in the vehicle. Children under 14 are also not allowed to ride in the back of a pickup truck.

There are some exceptions to seat belt laws in Kansas. Vehicles designed to carry more than 10 people, such as buses, are exempt. Large trucks weighing more than 12,000 pounds and farm vehicles are also exempt. Seat belt laws do not apply to motorcycles or trailers.
A person may be exempt from wearing her seat belt if she has a written statement from a physician. Other exceptions are given to mail carriers, newspaper deliverers and people covered by the Kansas Child Passenger Safety Act of 2003.