Senate File 293 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY BEALL (COMPANION TO LSB 1707HH BY HUNTER) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to restraint requirements for motor vehicle 2 occupants and making a penalty applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1707SS 82 5 dea/je/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 321.445, subsection 2, unnumbered 1 2 paragraph 1, Code 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 2. The driver andfront seatoccupants of a type of motor 1 4 vehicle that is subject to registration in Iowa, except a 1 5 motorcycle or a motorized bicycle, shall each wear a properly 1 6 adjusted and fastened safety belt or safety harness any time 1 7 the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway in 1 8 this state except that a child under eleven years of age shall 1 9 be secured as required under section 321.446. 1 10 Sec. 2. Section 321.445, subsection 2, paragraphs a, b, 1 11 and f, Code 2007, are amended to read as follows: 1 12 a. The driver orfront seatoccupants of a motor vehicle 1 13 which is not required to be equipped with safety belts or 1 14 safety harnesses. 1 15 b. The driver andfront seatoccupants of a motor vehicle 1 16 who are actively engaged in work which requires them to alight 1 17 from and reenter the vehicle at frequent intervals, providing 1 18 the vehicle does not exceed twenty=five miles per hour between 1 19 stops. 1 20 f.Front seat occupantsOccupants of an authorized 1 21 emergency vehicle while they are being transported in an 1 22 emergency. However, this exemption does not apply to the 1 23 driver of the authorized emergency vehicle. 1 24 Sec. 3. Section 321.445, subsection 3, Code 2007, is 1 25 amended to read as follows: 1 26 3. The driver andfront seatpassengers may be each 1 27 charged separately for improperly used or nonused equipment 1 28 under subsection 2. The owner of the motor vehicle may be 1 29 charged for equipment violations under subsection 1. 1 30 Sec. 4. Section 321.445, subsection 5, Code 2007, is 1 31 amended to read as follows: 1 32 5. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 1 33 17A providing exceptions from application of subsections 1 and 1 34 2 forfrontseats andfront seatpassengers of motor vehicles 1 35 owned, leased, rented, or primarily used by persons with 2 1 physical disabilities who use collapsible wheelchairs. 2 2 EXPLANATION 2 3 This bill requires the driver and all occupants of a motor 2 4 vehicle to wear a seat belt or safety harness while the 2 5 vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway. 2 6 Currently, only the driver and front seat passengers are 2 7 required to wear seat belts or safety harnesses. Restraint 2 8 requirements do not apply to the driver and occupants of a 2 9 motor vehicle that is not required to be equipped with seat 2 10 belts or safety harnesses, persons who are engaged in work 2 11 that requires frequent stops to exit and reenter the vehicle, 2 12 letter carriers, bus passengers, persons with a certified 2 13 physical or medical exemption, and occupants being transported 2 14 in an emergency vehicle. The department of transportation 2 15 shall adopt rules providing exceptions from seat belt 2 16 requirements for motor vehicles owned, leased, rented, or 2 17 primarily used by persons who use collapsible wheelchairs. 2 18 Separate provisions that apply for children under 11 years of 2 19 age are not affected by the bill. 2 20 A violation of seat belt or restraint requirements is a 2 21 scheduled violation subject to a fine of $25. Seat belt and 2 22 restraint violations are not a factor in establishing grounds 2 23 for license suspension or identifying a person as a habitual 2 24 violator. 2 25 LSB 1707SS 82 2 26 dea:nh/je/5