Evaluation of Maryland, Oklahoma and the District of Columbia's seat belt law change to primary enforcement

Abstract

Some states allow an officer to stop a motorist for an observed belt law violation alone (primary enforcement). Most require that the initial stop be made for some other violation before a belt citation can be issued (secondary enforcement). In 1997, Maryland, Oklahoma and the District of Columbia upgraded their seat belt laws from secondary to primary enforcement. Each had an increase in belt use after the law change. Increases ranged from 8 to 18 percentage points. Drivers surveyed at Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices indicated that they had knowledge of the new law, were more likely to wear belts now than in the past and most strongly agreed that belts make vehicle trips safer. The number of citations issued by police increased as soon as primary enforcement became effective. In a number of locations, citation data that identified race confirmed there was either no difference in non-white versus white ticketing, comparing secondary to primary enforcement, or a greater increase in ticketing went to whites following the change to a primary enforcement law. /Abstract from report summary page/\n