Beginning August 1, 2023, North Dakota will be moving from a secondary to primary seat belt law. 

North Dakota Seat Belt Law (beginning Aug. 1)

• All front seat and back seat occupants must be buckled up regardless of age. 
• Children younger than eight years of age are required to ride in a child restraint (car seat or booster seat). 

Primary vs. Secondary Law

• Primary law allows law enforcement to stop and issue a seat belt citation to someone for not wearing a seat belt.
• Secondary law allows law enforcement to issue a seat belt citation when a driver is pulled over for a different infraction. 

Primary Law Benefits

• Research shows that states that have primary enforcement have experienced up to a 10-12% increase in their observed seat belt use. (NHTSA)
• By increasing seat belt use, lives will be saved and injuries will be prevented on North Dakota roadways.  

We are asking Vision Zero partners to help us educate others on the primary seat belt law. Use the educational tools found in our media kit to spread the lifesaving message of buckling up every seat, every trip, every time.