K.S.A. » Chapter 08
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 8-2503 (2026)

Same; wearing of seat belt required; exceptions; educational program; evaluation of effectiveness of act; enforcement

✓ current as of May 2026
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8-2503. Same; wearing of seat belt required; exceptions; educational program; evaluation of effectiveness of act; enforcement. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b):

(1) Each occupant of either a passenger car manufactured with safety belts in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208 or an autocycle, who is 18 years of age or older, shall have a safety belt properly fastened about such person's body at all times when the passenger car is in motion; and

(2) each occupant of either a passenger car manufactured with safety belts in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208 or an autocycle, who is at least 14 years of age but less than 18 years of age, shall have a safety belt properly fastened about such person's body at all times when the passenger car is in motion.

(b) This section does not apply to:

(1) An occupant of a passenger car who possesses a written statement from a licensed physician that such person is unable for medical reasons to wear a safety belt system;

(2) carriers of United States mail while actually engaged in delivery and collection of mail along their specified routes; or

(3) newspaper delivery persons while actually engaged in delivery of newspapers along their specified routes.

(c) The secretary of transportation shall initiate an educational program designed to encourage compliance with the safety belt usage provisions of this act.

(d) The secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of this act and shall include a report of its findings in the annual evaluation report on its highway safety plan that it submits under 23 U.S.C. § 402.

(e) Law enforcement officers shall not stop drivers for violations of subsection (a)(1) by a back seat occupant in the absence of another violation of law. A citation for violation of subsection (a)(1) by a back seat occupant shall not be issued without citing the violation that initially caused the officer to effect the enforcement stop.

History: L. 1986, ch. 35, § 3; L. 1989, ch. 40, § 4; L. 2007, ch. 140, § 11; L. 2010, ch. 157, § 1; L. 2011, ch. 45, § 9; L. 2015, ch. 48, § 8; May 14.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1995–2024 · leading case: State v. Schmitter, 933 P.2d 762 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997).
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State v. Schmitter, 933 P.2d 762 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 3× “It claims that an officer has the discretion to arrest a passenger for violating K.S.A. 8-2503 and, thus, the search was legal even though Schmitter was not placed under arrest for violating the seat belt law.”
State v. Hardyway, 958 P.2d 618 (Kan. 1998). · cites it 2× “65-4160(a), and one count of seat belt violation, K.S.A. 8-2503. Before trial, Hardyway filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained *452 during the search.”
Dexter v. Ford Motor Co., 92 F. App'x 637 (10th Cir. 2004). “Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-2503 ; Colo.Rev.Stat.”
Gardner Ex Rel. Gardner v. Chrysler Corp., 89 F.3d 729 (10th Cir. 1996). “The failure to use a seat belt does not constitute a separate offense "in the absence of another violation of law,” Kan.Stat.Ann. § 8-2503(e), and carries a fine of "not more than $10 including court costs.”
Hodes & Nauser, MDs v. Stanek, 551 P.3d 62 (Kan. 2024). “65- 87 1953); the use of car seat belts (K.S.A. 8-2503 [a][1]-[2]); the use of helmets while riding motorcycles and motorized bicycles (K.”
Simpson v. State of Kansas, 593 F. App'x 790 (10th Cir. 2014). “Simpson for violation of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 8-2503 and 8-1344. Section 8-2503(a)(l) requires adults in a car to wear a seatbelt; Section 8-1344 requires the use of a restraining system for children 13 or younger.”
Lewis v. City of Topeka, Kansas, 305 F. Supp. 2d 1209 (D. Kan. 2004). · cites it 2× “None of the passengers in the ear were wearing seat belts, in violation of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-2503 (a). For this reason, Officer Bowers decided to check their identifications.”
State v. McDaniel, 893 P.2d 290 (Kan. Ct. App. 1995). “65-4127a) and failure to wear a seat belt (K.S.A. 8-2503). We apply a harmless error standard to the State’s breach of the plea agreement at the hearing on the motion to modify and reverse and remand for rehearing on both motions to modify.”
State v. Hamblin (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “" K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 8-2503(a)(1). Observing a seatbelt violation establishes reasonable suspicion to justify a traffic stop.”
State v. Griffith (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “8-1558, and not wearing a seatbelt, in violation of K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 8-2503. 1 On October 28, 2016, Griffith failed to appear in court.”
State v. Rodriguez (Kan. Ct. App. 2022). “See K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 8-2503 (law enforcement officer may stop motor vehicle if occupants of front seats are not wearing seatbelts).”
Snyder v. State, 107 P.3d 451 (Kan. Ct. App. 2005). “65-4160(a); failure to wear a safety belt, in violation of K.S.A. 8-2503; failure to provide proof of liability insurance, in violation of K.”
— K.S.A. § 8-2503(a)(1) — 1 case
State v. Hamblin (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “" K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 8-2503(a)(1). Observing a seatbelt violation establishes reasonable suspicion to justify a traffic stop.”
— K.S.A. § 8-2503(e) — 1 case
Gardner Ex Rel. Gardner v. Chrysler Corp., 89 F.3d 729 (10th Cir. 1996). “The failure to use a seat belt does not constitute a separate offense "in the absence of another violation of law,” Kan.Stat.Ann. § 8-2503(e), and carries a fine of "not more than $10 including court costs.”
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