New York State $50 Bus Seatbelt Law into Effect Immediately

In 1987, New York State made a law that stated every single bus had to have a seat belts for every occupant. At least that was for school buses. Now, Nearly 40 years later, they are updating the law and it is into effect for charter busses.

There is a new law that states that every single person that is 8 years or older has to wear a seat belt while on the bus. The New York State website spells out all of the criteria.

The law defines a charter bus as a bus manufactured or assembled on or after November 28, 2016 for transporting a group of passengers to a specific destination or for a particular itinerary in exchange for compensation.

If you were to get caught not wearing a seatbelt while on a charter bus in New York State you can and will get a ticket and a fine. That fine is 50 bucks and if you are the guardian or parent for anyone ages 8 to 15 and THEY are not wearing a seatbelt you will get a fine for them as well for the $50. The law does not require kids under the age of 8 to wear a seat belt on a charter bus.

There is a way you could possibly get out of the $50 ticket, though.

Tickets may be dismissed if the charter bus lacked seat belts or if the seat belts were not visible, accessible or in good working order.

There was just a huge charter bus accident in Western New York on the New York State Thruway that claimed the lives of 5 people and injured dozens more. It is not clear how the new seat belt law will be utilized by the Transportation Safety Board, but the law was already previously in place.