Louisiana has seat belt (safety restraint) laws that are fairly similar to other states. The similarity results from federal mandates on safety belt law standards for the states under the threat of the loss of highway revenues.
 

What about rear seat passengers?

Proposed laws to make it mandatory for rear-seat passengers to use seatbelts failed in last year's Legislative Session.

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The law applies to any "passenger car, van, or truck having a gross weight of ten thousand pounds or less" (pickup truck) manufactured after January 1, 1981.

The driver of the car must have the seat belt on anytime the car is in forward motion.

A front seat passenger must also have a seat belt on if the manufacturer of the vehicle has provided a seat belt. There are exceptions to the rule that the driver and front seat passengers must wear safety belts.

Exceptions:

	Rural letter carrier while on duty
	Farm vehicle within 5 miles of the farm
	Newspaper delivery person while delivering a regularly published newspaper
	Medical or mental disability that prevents the use of a seatbelt

A law enforcement officer can issue a ticket based on his clear vision of the violation. However, he cannot search a car, driver or passenger based solely on the violation of the seat belt law.
 

Penalties:

	Upon conviction of a first offense, the fine shall be twenty-five dollars which shall include all costs of court.
	Upon conviction of a second offense, the fine shall be fifty dollars which shall include all costs of court.
	Upon conviction of a third offense and any subsequent offense, the fine shall be fifty dollars plus all costs of court.
	Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, no other cost or fee shall be assessed against any person for a violation of this Section.

And what is the difference between the penalty for a second offense and a third offense? Court costs, which can be many times more than the fine in some areas.

Child restraints

"Every resident of this state who transports a child or children under the age of thirteen years in a motor vehicle which is equiped with safety belts at the time of manufacture or assembly, or is currently equipped with safety belts, shall have the child properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions in an age or size appropriate passenger restraint system which meets the applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect."

"Child restraint system" mean a lap belt, a shoulder harness, or an age or size appropriate child safety seat.
 

Mental or physical disability

To qualify to not have to use a seatbelt under this exception, there must by a certificate from a physician which would then enable you to have a special tag or a notation on your driver's license that you are not required to use a seat belt. Doing so by fraud will result in criminal penalties. The penalty for a physician who falsely certifies a disability is higher than the penalty for someone who falsely obtains the permit.

Don't forget the autocycle

What is an autocycle, you may well ask? It is an enclosed motorcycle that has a roll bar, windshield wipers and a steering wheel. In other words, kind of a motorcycle. In any event, the driver of an autocycle must also have his or her seat belt on at any time there is forward motion.