Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 (2026)
Use of safety belts in passenger vehicles - Violations - Penalties - Arrest - Applicability
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) No person shall operate a passenger motor vehicle on any highway, as defined in § 55-8-101, in this state unless the person and all passengers four (4) years of age or older are restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
- (2) No person four (4) years of age or older shall be a passenger in a passenger motor vehicle on any highway, as defined in § 55-8-101, in this state, unless the person is restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
- (b)
- (1) This section shall apply only to the operator and all passengers occupying the front seat of a passenger motor vehicle.
- (2) If the vehicle is equipped with a rear seat that is capable of folding, this section shall only apply to front seat passengers and the operator if the back seat is in the fold down position.
- (c) As used in this section, unless specified otherwise, "passenger car" or "passenger motor vehicle" does not include any motor vehicle that is used as a public or livery conveyance for passengers or any motor vehicles that are not required by federal law to be equipped with safety belts, except autocycles as defined in § 55-1-103.
- (d)
- (1) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor. All proceeds from the fines imposed by this subsection (d), except as otherwise provided by subdivisions (d)(2) and (3), shall be deposited in the state general fund and designated for the exclusive use of the division of vocational rehabilitation to assist eligible individuals with disabilities, as defined in § 49-11-602, who have been severely injured in motor vehicle accidents.
- (2)
- (A) A person charged with a violation of this section may, in lieu of appearance in court, submit a fine of thirty dollars ($30.00) for a first violation, and fifty-five dollars ($55.00) for a second or subsequent violation to the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction of the offense within the county in which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed.
- (B) The revenue generated by fifteen dollars ($15.00) of the thirty-dollar fine in subdivision (d)(2)(A) for a person's first conviction shall be deposited in the state general fund without being designated for any specific purpose. Ten dollars ($10.00) of the thirty-dollar fine for the person's first conviction under subdivision (d)(2)(A) shall be deposited in the state general fund and designated for the exclusive use of the division of vocational rehabilitation to assist eligible individuals with disabilities, as defined in § 49-11-602, who have been severely injured in motor vehicle accidents. The remaining five dollars ($5.00) of the thirty-dollar fine for the person's first conviction under subdivision (d)(2)(A) shall be retained by the court clerk.
- (C) The revenue generated by thirty dollars ($30.00) of the fifty-five-dollar fine under subdivision (d)(2)(A) for a person's second or subsequent conviction shall be deposited in the state general fund without being designated for any specific purpose. Twenty dollars ($20.00) of the fifty-five-dollar fine for the person's second or subsequent conviction under subdivision (d)(2)(A) shall be deposited in the state general fund and designated for the exclusive use of the division of vocational rehabilitation to assist eligible individuals with disabilities, as defined in § 49-11-602, who have been severely injured in motor vehicle accidents. The remaining five dollars ($5.00) of the fifty-five-dollar fine for the person's second or subsequent conviction under subdivision (d)(2)(A) shall be retained by the court clerk.
- (3)
- (A) Notwithstanding subdivision (d)(2), a person charged with a violation of subsection (i) may, in lieu of appearance in court, submit a fine of thirty dollars ($30.00) to the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction of the offense within the county in which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed.
- (B) Notwithstanding subdivision (d)(2), the revenue generated by fifteen dollars ($15.00) of the thirty-dollar fine under subdivision (d)(3)(A) for a person's first conviction under subsection (i) shall be deposited in the state general fund without being designated for any specific purpose. Ten dollars ($10.00) of the thirty-dollar fine for the person's first conviction under subsection (i) shall be deposited in the state general fund and designated for the exclusive use of the division of vocational rehabilitation to assist eligible individuals with disabilities, as defined in § 49-11-602, who have been severely injured in motor vehicle accidents. The remaining five dollars ($5.00) of the thirty-dollar fine for the person's first conviction under subsection (i) shall be retained by the court clerk.
- (C) The revenue generated by five dollars ($5.00) of the thirty-dollar fine under subdivision (d)(3)(A) for a person's second or subsequent conviction under subsection (i) shall be deposited in the state general fund without being designated for any specific purpose. Twenty dollars ($20.00) of the thirty-dollar fine for the person's second or subsequent conviction under subsection (i) shall be deposited in the state general fund and designated for the exclusive use of the division of vocational rehabilitation to assist eligible individuals with disabilities, as defined in § 49-11-602, who have been severely injured in motor vehicle accidents. The remaining five dollars ($5.00) of the thirty-dollar fine for the person's second or subsequent conviction under subsection (i) shall be retained by the court clerk.
- (e) Except as otherwise provided by subdivisions (d)(2) and (3), no clerk's fee nor court costs, including, but not limited to, any statutory fees of officers, shall be imposed or assessed against anyone convicted of a violation of this section. No litigation tax levied pursuant to title 67, chapter 4, part 6, shall be imposed or assessed against anyone convicted of a violation of this section.
- (f)
- (1) A law enforcement officer observing a violation of this section shall issue a citation to the violator, but shall not arrest or take into custody any person solely for a violation of this section.
- (2) The department of safety shall not report any convictions under this section except for law enforcement or governmental purposes.
- (g) In no event shall a violation of this section be assigned a point value for suspension or revocation of a license by the department of safety, nor shall the violation be construed as any other offense under this title.
- (h) This section does not apply to:
- (1) A passenger or operator with a physical disability which prevents appropriate restraint in a safety seat or safety belt; provided, that the condition is duly certified in writing by a physician who shall state the nature of the disability, as well as the reason a restraint is inappropriate;
- (2) A passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural letter carrier;
- (3) Salespersons or mechanics employed by an automobile dealer who, in the course of their employment, test-drive a motor vehicle, if the dealership customarily test-drives fifty (50) or more motor vehicles a day, and if the test-drives occur within one (1) mile of the location of the dealership;
- (4) Water, gas, and electric meter readers, and utility workers, while the meter reader or utility worker is:
- (A) Emerging from and reentering a vehicle at frequent intervals; and
- (B) Operating the vehicle at speeds not exceeding forty miles per hour (40 mph);
- (5) A newspaper delivery motor carrier service while performing the duties of a newspaper delivery motor carrier service; provided, that this exemption shall only apply from the time of the actual first delivery to the customer until the last actual delivery to the customer;
- (6) A vehicle in use in a parade if operated at less than fifteen miles per hour (15 mph);
- (7) A vehicle in use in a hayride if operated at less than fifteen miles per hour (15 mph);
- (8) A vehicle crossing a highway from one field to another if operated at less than fifteen miles per hour (15 mph); or
- (9) An ADS or an ADS-operated vehicle. Except as otherwise provided by § 55-9-606(2), for purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle, a passenger or human operator required to be restrained by a safety belt pursuant to this section is solely responsible for the passenger's or human operator's compliance with such requirement.
- (i)
- (1) Notwithstanding this section to the contrary, no person between sixteen (16) years of age and up to and through the age of seventeen (17) years of age, shall operate a passenger motor vehicle, or be a passenger therein, unless the person is restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
- (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(1), this subsection (i) shall apply to all occupants between sixteen (16) years of age and eighteen (18) years of age occupying any seat in a passenger motor vehicle.
- (3) Notwithstanding subdivision (f)(1), a law enforcement officer observing a violation of this subsection (i) shall issue a citation to the violator, but shall not arrest or take into custody any person solely for a violation of this subsection (i).
- (j) Notwithstanding subsection (b), no person with a learner permit or an intermediate driver license shall operate a passenger motor vehicle in this state unless the person and all passengers between the ages of four (4) and seventeen (17) years of age are restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 474, s 8, eff. 6/6/2017.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 358, s 3, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 358, s 2, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1015, s 17, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 723, s 1, eff. 4/7/2016.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 296, s 1, eff. 1/1/2016.
Acts 1986, ch. 866, §§ 3, 4, 7, 8, 11; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1994, ch. 661, §§ 2, 4; 2000, ch. 700, § 3; 2000, ch. 945, §§ 2 - 4; 2004, ch. 893, §§ 1 - 5; 2011 , ch. 47, §§ 59, 60.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 30
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1992–2024 · leading case: State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008).
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
State v. Turner, 297 S.W.3d 155 (Tenn. 2009). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-9-603(a), (d)(1) (2008).”
MacDonald v. Gen. Motors Corp., 784 F. Supp. 486 (M.D. Tenn. 1992). “This case presents five issues: (1) whether T.C.A. §§ 55-9-603 through 610, including § 604, are null and void pursuant to the express provisions of T.”
United States v. Street, 614 F.3d 228 (6th Cir. 2010). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 . While this traffic violation is not an arrestable offense, see Tenn.”
England v. Suzuki Motor Corp., 521 F. Supp. 2d 707 (E.D. Tenn. 2007). “The statutory history also supports the Court’s reading that the exception allowing the admission of seat belt non-use evidence only applies to seat belt non-use that violates the Mandatory Seat Belt Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 . The statutory background refutes defendants’…”
Hugueley v. Dresden Police Dep't, 469 F. Supp. 2d 507 (W.D. Tenn. 2007). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 (a)(l)(2006). 3 .”
State of Tennessee v. Devin Lamar Jamison (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016). “Fine and Costs for Safety Belt Violation The defendant next contends that the trial court erred by approving and imposing the $50 fine set by the jury for his violation of the safety belt law, arguing that Code section 55-9-603 caps the fine for a safety belt violation at $10.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Chris Luthi (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “Based upon this observation, Trooper Clark had a reasonable suspicion, supported by specific and articulable facts, that the Defendant was in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 . Therefore, a warrant was not required for Trooper Clark to initiate an investigatory stop of…”
State of Tennessee v. James E. Ferrell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “The Defendant cites to Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-10-305 to support his argument that the trial court had no jurisdiction without a warrant.”
State of Tennessee v. John Wayne Wright (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “The trial court denied Defendant’s motion to suppress, finding that Agent Cunningham initiated a lawful stop of Defendant’s vehicle after observing that Defendant was not wearing his seat belt in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. The trial court found Agent…”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Crockett (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “2008) (officer’s testimony that he saw the defendant driving without a seatbelt in violation of T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) gave probable cause for a traffic stop).”
State of Tennessee v. Jonathan Fredrick Walker (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “A law enforcement officer observing a violation of this statutory provision is authorized to issue a citation to the violator, and such violation is a Class C misdemeanor. Id. § 55-9-603(d)(1), (f)(1).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(a) — 1 case
State v. Turner, 297 S.W.3d 155 (Tenn. 2009). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-9-603(a), (d)(1) (2008).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(a)(1) — 10 cases
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Crockett (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “2008) (officer’s testimony that he saw the defendant driving without a seatbelt in violation of T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) gave probable cause for a traffic stop).”
State of Tennessee v. James E. Ferrell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “The Defendant cites to Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-10-305 to support his argument that the trial court had no jurisdiction without a warrant.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Chris Luthi (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “Based upon this observation, Trooper Clark had a reasonable suspicion, supported by specific and articulable facts, that the Defendant was in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 . Therefore, a warrant was not required for Trooper Clark to initiate an investigatory stop of…”
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Douglas Dansby (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(a)(l) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(d)(1) — 3 cases
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Brandon Phifer (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014).
State of Tennessee v. Jonathan Fredrick Walker (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “A law enforcement officer observing a violation of this statutory provision is authorized to issue a citation to the violator, and such violation is a Class C misdemeanor. Id. § 55-9-603(d)(1), (f)(1).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(d)(2) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Devin Lamar Jamison (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016). “Fine and Costs for Safety Belt Violation The defendant next contends that the trial court erred by approving and imposing the $50 fine set by the jury for his violation of the safety belt law, arguing that Code section 55-9-603 caps the fine for a safety belt violation at $10.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(d)(l) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(e) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Devin Lamar Jamison (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016). “Fine and Costs for Safety Belt Violation The defendant next contends that the trial court erred by approving and imposing the $50 fine set by the jury for his violation of the safety belt law, arguing that Code section 55-9-603 caps the fine for a safety belt violation at $10.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(f)(1) — 4 cases
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
State of Tennessee v. James E. Ferrell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “The Defendant cites to Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-10-305 to support his argument that the trial court had no jurisdiction without a warrant.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Chris Luthi (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “Based upon this observation, Trooper Clark had a reasonable suspicion, supported by specific and articulable facts, that the Defendant was in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603 . Therefore, a warrant was not required for Trooper Clark to initiate an investigatory stop of…”
State of Tennessee v. John Wayne Wright (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “The trial court denied Defendant’s motion to suppress, finding that Agent Cunningham initiated a lawful stop of Defendant’s vehicle after observing that Defendant was not wearing his seat belt in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. The trial court found Agent…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-603(f)(l) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Triston Lee Harris, 280 S.W.3d 832 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The officer saw the defendant’s seatbelt dangling unengaged from the door post while the defendant drove the car, and as such, the officer witnessed a violation of Tennesee Code Annotated section 55-9-603. See T.C.A. § 55-9-603(a)(1) (2004) (“No person shall operate a passenger…”
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