Are Seatbelts Required in Iowa? The Loophole You Don’t Know About
There is no mistaking: you should always wear a seat belt. It's just safer and smarter than the alternative.
That said, from a legal standpoint, Iowa is one of only a few states that allows those within the vehicle to be unbuckled if they're seated somewhere specifically.
Let's dig in.
Seatbelts Are Required to be Worn By Iowa Law, But...
There is an exception. Iowa is one of only 10 U.S. states that doesn't require all passengers to be buckled in.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Iowa is one of the 10 that do not require passengers in the backseat to be buckled. This is also confirmed by Drive Smart Iowa, which spells out the importance of wearing a seatbelt, whether it's legally required in all cases or not.
When you're driving or riding shotgun, you are legally required to be buckled. For those who are not, you face a fine, which can vary based on location.
In addition to Iowa, these are the states that do not require passengers in the back seat to wear a seatbelt.
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Ohio
Seat Belt Laws Are Still Pretty Clear
Make no mistake, wearing a seat belt is still the law in Iowa for all drivers and front-seat passengers.
In Iowa, being buckled up is a primary law. That means a police officer can stop you if they notice the backseat passenger is not wearing their seat belt. So, while it's not illegal, it still allows an officer to pull you over.
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