Is It Against The Law To Ride In The Backseat Without A Seatbelt In Arkansas & Texas?

It's family summer vacation time, and loads of people are packing up their vehicles to drive to their destinations. We all know that if you aren't wearing a seatbelt as a driver and a front seat passenger you can get a ticket, but what about the back seat?

Backseat seatbelt laws are different depending on the state. In fact, in 40 states it is a law that you must wear a seatbelt in the backseat. But what about Arkansas and Texas?

When it's a long drive it's hard to keep the kids and teens in seatbelts but it is safer for everyone to wear them. But, do they really need to wear seatbelts in the back seat? Here's what we found out.

There are two types of classifications in these laws. A Primary Law means law enforcement can pull you over for not wearing a seatbelt. A Secondary Law means they need to have another reason for pulling you over and then if they find you don't have a seatbelt on within state law then they can fine you for no seatbelts.

Texas

Everyone in the front seats and the back seats better be buckled up or you could face a fine. The state of Texas considers this a primary law meaning if a police officer sees someone without a seatbelt on in the vehicle they can pull you over for that and that alone.

Arkansas

Arkansas along with 10 other states says front-seat passengers must have seatbelts on but backseat passengers do not. It is still considered a primary law in Arkansas but they will only be looking at the front seat driver and passenger.

The best bet is for everyone to wear seatbelts, especially if you are traveling from state to state and aren't sure about the state laws.

You can see all the states and their laws on seatbelts on this interactive map at the Governors Highway Safety Association.

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