Section 31-607. SEAT BELT USE

607.1Pursuant to section 3(a) and (b)(4) of the Mandatory Use of Seat Belt Act of 1985 (Seat Belt Act), effective December 12, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-73; D.C. Official Code § 50-1802(a) and (b)(4) (2009 Repl.)), all drivers and passengers in a motor vehicle being operated in the District of Columbia must wear a seat belt.  However, operators of taxicabs are exempt from this requirement when operating for hire between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

 

607.2Pursuant to section 7(f) of the Seat Belt Act, D.C. Official Code § 50-1806(f) (2009 Repl.), operators of public vehicles for hire are NOT responsible for ensuring that passengers comply with the seat belt requirement.

 

607.3All public vehicles for hire shall have operating seat belts for each passenger and display a sign which states the following:

 

“District of Columbia law requires mandatory use of seat belts.  A fifty dollar ($50) fine applies for violations.”

 

authority

The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (Commission), pursuant to the authority set forth in § 8(b)(1)(C), (F), and (G) of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-307(b)(1)(C), (F), and (G)) (2009 Repl.))

source

Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3595, 3606 (June 1, 1990); as amended by § 3 of the Mandatory Use of Seat Belts Amendment Act of 1996, D.C. Law 11-244, 44 DCR 1155 (February 28, 1997); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 8564, 8571 (July 20, 2012).