Nevada's Seat Belt Use Laws - Adults

1. It is unlawful to drive a passenger car manufactured after:

(a) January 1, 1968, on a highway unless it is equipped with at least two lap-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

(b) January 1, 1970, on a highway, unless it is equipped with a lap-type safety belt assembly for each permanent seating position for passengers. This requirement does not apply to the rear seats of vehicles operated by a police department or sheriff’s office.

(c) January 1, 1970, unless it is equipped with at least two shoulder-harness-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

2. Any person driving, and any passenger who:

(a) Is 6 years of age or older; or

(b) Weighs more than 60 pounds, regardless of age, who rides in the front or back seat of any vehicle described in subsection 1, having an unladen weight of less than 10,000 pounds, on any highway, road or street in this state shall wear a safety belt if one is available for his seating position.

3. A citation must be issued to any driver or to any adult passenger who fails to wear a safety belt as required by subsection 2. If the passenger is a child who:

(a) Is 6 years of age or older but less than 18 years of age, regardless of weight; or

(b) Is less than 6 years of age but who weighs more than 60 pounds, a citation must be issued to the driver for his failure to require that child to wear the safety belt, but if both the driver and that child are not wearing safety belts, only one citation may be issued to the driver for both violations. A citation may be issued pursuant to this subsection only if the violation is discovered when the vehicle is halted or its driver arrested for another alleged violation or offense. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection 2 shall be punished by a fine of not more than $25 or by a sentence to perform a certain number of hours of community service.

4. A violation of subsection 2:

(a) Is not a moving traffic violation under NRS 483.473.

(b) May not be considered as negligence or as causation in any civil action or as negligent or reckless driving under NRS 484.377.

(c) May not be considered as misuse or abuse of a product or as causation in any action brought to recover damages for injury to a person or property resulting from the manufacture, distribution, sale or use of a product.

5. The Department shall exempt those types of motor vehicles or seating positions from the requirements of subsection 1 when compliance would be impractical.

6. The provisions of subsections 2 and 3 do not apply:

(a) To a driver or passenger who possesses a written statement by a physician certifying that he is unable to wear a safety belt for medical or physical reasons;

(b) If the vehicle is not required by federal law to be equipped with safety belts;

(c) To an employee of the United States Postal Service while delivering mail in the rural areas of this state;

(d) If the vehicle is stopping frequently, the speed of that vehicle does not exceed 15 miles per hour between stops and the driver or passenger is frequently leaving the vehicle or delivering property from the vehicle; or

(e) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 484.6415, to a passenger riding in a means of public transportation, including a school bus or emergency vehicle.

7. It is unlawful for any person to distribute, have for sale, offer for sale or sell any safety belt or shoulder harness assembly for use in a motor vehicle unless it meets current minimum standards and specifications of the United States Department of Transportation.

(Added to NRS by 1969, 1209; A 1985, 1953, 2294; 1987, 1106; 2001 Special Session, 151; 2003, 274, 506, 2080, effective June 1, 2004, until the date the Federal Government rescinds the requirement for the installation of automatic restraints in new private passenger motor vehicles, if that action is based upon the enactment or continued operation of certain amendatory and transitory provisions contained in chapter 480, Statutes of Nevada 1987)

NRS 484.6415 Use of safety belts within taxicabs.

1. Any passenger 18 years of age or older who rides in the front or back seat of any taxicab on any highway, road or street in this state shall wear a safety belt if one is available for his seating position, except that this subsection does not apply:

(a) To a passenger who possesses a written statement by a physician certifying that he is unable to wear a safety belt for medical or physical reasons; or

(b) If the taxicab was not required by federal law at the time of initial sale to be equipped with safety belts.

2. A citation must be issued to any passenger who violates the provisions of subsection 1. A citation may be issued pursuant to this subsection only if the violation is discovered when the vehicle is halted or its driver arrested for another alleged violation or offense. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection 1 shall be punished by a fine of not more than $25 or by a sentence to perform a certain number of hours of community service.

3. A violation of subsection 1:

(a) Is not a moving traffic violation under NRS 483.473.

(b) May not be considered as negligence or as causation in any civil action or as negligent or reckless driving under NRS 484.377.

(c) May not be considered as misuse or abuse of a product or as causation in any action brought to recover damages for injury to a person or property resulting from the manufacture, distribution, sale or use of a product.

4. An owner or operator of a taxicab shall post a sign within each of his taxicabs advising passengers that they must wear safety belts while being transported by the taxicab. Such a sign must be placed within the taxicab so as to be visible to and easily readable by passengers, except that this subsection does not apply if the taxicab was not required by federal law at the time of initial sale to be equipped with safety belts.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 505)

For full text visit - http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-484.html#NRS484Sec641