Can you be stopped for not wearing a seat belt in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, not wearing a seat belt is considered a primary offense. This means that law enforcement officers have the authority to stop and ticket a driver solely for the violation of not wearing a seat belt, without needing to cite another traffic infraction. This law emphasizes the importance of seat belt safety as a key measure for reducing injury and fatalities in car accidents.

In contrast, secondary offense designations would mean that an officer could only issue a citation for the seat belt violation if they observed another traffic law being broken first. However, Pennsylvania’s law is proactive in encouraging compliance with seat belt use by allowing immediate enforcement of this safety regulation. Therefore, because it is classified as a primary offense, officers can enforce this law independently of any other violations.