NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-135.2 (2026)

Safety belts and anchorages

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) Every new motor vehicle registered in this State and manufactured, assembled, or sold after January 1, 1964, shall, at the time of registration, be equipped with at least two sets of seat safety belts for the front seat of the motor vehicle. Such seat safety belts shall be of such construction, design, and strength to support a loop load strength of not less than 5,000 pounds for each belt, and must be of a type approved by the Commissioner.

This subsection shall not apply to passenger motor vehicles having a seating capacity in the front seat of less than two passengers.

(b) After July 1, 1962, no seat safety belt shall be sold for use in connection with the operation of a motor vehicle on any highway of this State unless it shall be constructed and installed as to have a loop strength through the complete attachment of not less than 5,000 pounds and the buckle or closing device shall be of such construction and design that after it has received the aforesaid loop belt load it can be released with one hand with a pull of less than 45 pounds.

(c) The provisions of this section shall apply only to passenger vehicles of nine-passenger capacity or less, except motorcycles.

(d) For purposes of this section, the term "motorcycle" shall not include autocycles. Every autocycle registered in this State shall be equipped with seat safety belts for the front seats of the autocycle. The seat safety belts shall meet the same construction, design, and strength requirements under this section for seat safety belts in motor vehicles. (1961, c. 1076; 1963, c. 288; 2015-163, s. 9.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 1968–2014 · leading case: Miller v. Miller, 160 S.E.2d 65 (N.C. 1968).

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Miller v. Miller, 160 S.E.2d 65 (N.C. 1968). “G.S. 20-135.2. Since 1 July 1966, the law has required that every such new vehicle “be equipped with sufficient anchorage units at the attachment points for attaching at least two sets of seat safety belts for the rear seat of the motor vehicle.”

Byrd v. Hunt, 136 F. Supp. 2d 511 (M.D.N.C. 2001). · cites it 2× “and the State of North Carolina, based upon his assertion that the enforcement of the Seat Belt Law, N.C. Gen.Stat. § 20-135.2, constitutes extortion upon the drivers and citizens of North Carolina.”

Madaris v. State of Oregon High. Div., 723 P.2d 1054 (Or. Ct. App. 1986). “…Rev Stat Ann tit 29, § 1368-A; Mass Gen Laws Ann ch 90, § 70BB; NJ Rev Stat § 39:3-76.2a; NM Stat Ann § 66-7-373(B); NC Gen Stat § 20-135.2 A; Okla Stat tit 47, § 12-420; Tex Civ Stat art 6701d, § 107c; Va Code § 46.1-309.1(b); Wash Laws 1986, ch 152, HB 1182. The New Jersey…”

State v. Dickenson (N.C. Ct. App. 2014). “§ 20-135.2 (a)(e) and that Officer Golshani was riding with Officer Griffin.”

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