West Virginia Senate Passes Primary Seat Belt Bill
Drivers in West Virginia could be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt if Senate-passed legislation prevails this session.
Senators voted 27-5 this week to send the House the latest attempt by lawmakers to make this a primary offense.
While West Virginia requires seat belts, drivers can be cited for not wearing them only if they’ve been pulled over for something else.
The bill also changes the penalty to $15. The fine can now be up to $25.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 30 states have made not wearing a seat belt a primary offense, including neighboring Kentucky and Maryland.
Supporters cite safety statistics to estimate that the bill would save 21 lives annually in West Virginia.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Popular Today
- Car Owners Shocked by $200 Gas Bills Finally Embrace Used EVs
- The Field Inspection Gap: A Growing Structural Risk in Claims Handling
- Why Toyota RAV4s Are Suddenly the Most Coveted Used Cars in America
- US, Mexico, Canada to Miss July USMCA Date, Ramping Up Trade Tension
Popular This Month
- The Adjuster’s Year Ahead: What AI Will and Won’t Change About the Job
- CommScope Sued by Lenders for at Least $150 Million Over Alleged Breach
- Insurance Attorneys Flip $1M Hail Claim into Nearly $2M Suit for Contractor Interference
- Ex-Shield AI Worker Sues Over ‘Profane, Egregious’ Acts by Senior Official