Seat belt laws are always a point of contention and concern for drivers across America. Every state has its own statutes, and those guidelines impact everyone in the vehicle. Instead of jumping in the car and assuming that everyone is alright, review these rules to learn what you should do every time you get in the car by yourself, with friends, or with the whole family.
Also, it is important to keep in mind that several Colorado traffic laws were updated, and many took effect on January 1, 2025.
The Basics of Colorado Seatbelt Laws
First, it is important for drivers to understand that Colorado’s seat belt statutes lead to primary offenses, meaning that officers can pull over drivers for most seat belt infractions. As part of the revised law, officers are now looking for any unrestrained children under 18. Previously, the seat belt law limit was 16.
The only exception is the driver. Drivers cannot be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt, but they can be cited for such an offense if they are pulled over for another infraction and found to be without it.
General rules for the state of Colorado include:
- All children under 18 must wear a seat belt at all times
- Children under 9 years old must use the appropriate restraint system or seat for their height and weight. This law was also recently changed, raising the maximum age from 8 to 9
- Children between the ages of 9 and 18 must be buckled up
- Babies must be in a carseat with the proper restraint system
- Babies under 20 pounds must be in a rear-facing carseat with the proper restraining system
- All forward-facing car seats must be in the back seat(s) of the vehicle
Exemptions From Colorado Seat Belt Laws
There are notable exemptions and exceptions to the laws on the books in Colorado. Most notably, anyone in a vehicle manufactured prior to 1968 is exempt from these laws simply because those vehicles may not have safety belts or adequate harnesses.
Additionally, drivers or passengers with a verifiable and documented mental or physical illness can be exempted from seat belt laws in the state. If you believe that you should be exempt from these regulations, visit www.codot.gov.
Another interesting exception to Colorado’s general seat belt laws is how young drivers are expected to behave. Under the GDL or Graduated Drivers Licensing program, all drivers under 18 and their passengers, irrespective of their ages, must be buckled up at all times.
What does this mean? This gives officers discretion to pull over young drivers who appear to be violating this rule.
Get Buckled Up in Colorado Today
Fines in 2025 for not buckling up start at $65 per infraction, and fines for not properly restraining children start at $82, meaning that drivers will feel the pain in their wallet if they do not abide by these simple rules. Teach your children how and when to buckle up, ask everyone to put on their seat belts when you get in the car, and remember to follow the guidelines set forth for forward and rear-facing carseats or booster seats for young children. Together, we can make the roadways of Colorado much safer.