Wisconsin UTV Seat belt Law Guide- What is Wisconsin Seat Belt Law?

Wisconsin is a state in the US, gifted with beautiful coastlines. However, here at offoroadingutv.com we always talk about UTVs.

Wisconsin has primary enforcement seat belt law, but is it applicable to UTVs? Let’s decode everything about Wisconsin UTV seat belt law. 

First of all, Wisconsin seat belt law is not applicable to UTVs, it is for motor vehicles and automobile vehicles. However, the UTV occupants are required to wear seat belts by state laws.

Let’s look at what is the difference between Wisconsin seat belt law and Wisconsin UTV seat belt law. 

Wisconsin UTV seat belt law

Friends, you might have seen many articles were Wisconsin seat belt law is marketed as Wisconsin UTV seat belt law.

But it is not the case. In fact the Wisconsin seat belt law is not applicable to UTVs. Let’s see why I am saying this. 

If you read it fully, the seat belt law statute says that “All drivers of motor vehicles and all passengers…” on the official website of the Wisconsin DOT seat belt law section.

But according to federal standards the vehicles which are safe to use on the highway are motor vehicles.

As UTVs are off road vehicles, they are not considered as motor vehicles, which means the Wisconsin seat belt law provisions are not applicable to UTVs. 

However some of the provisions of the seat belt law do not apply for the UTVs. Then the individual cities within the state have their own rules and regulations for UTVs. 

As per the state statutes, it is mandatory for drivers and passengers in motor vehicles to wear seat belts. But UTV is not a motor vehicle as per federal standards. 

For UTVs, there are multiple regulations and different for different cities in wisconsin.

Let’s talk about some Wisconsin UTV seat belt law provisions that are common in every city in wisconsin. 

1. All UTVs should be equipped with seat belts. 
2. The Type 2 seat belts should be installed in front and rear seats.
3. No UTV should be bought, sold or given on rent without seat belts equipped. 
4. If the UTV is not equipped with seat belts then the owner is responsible for violation if it is ridden on the road.

I was researching the UTV seat belt law in Wisconsin, so I found the Platteville UTV regulations.

Platteville is a city in the wisconsin. So according to it, the following are UTV seat belt law provisions:

• All occupants in UTV need to wear seat belts. 
• UTV drivers are not required to wear seat belts. 

Penalties for Violation of UTV seat belt laws Wisconsin

A citation or fine of $150.50 is applicable to all passengers and occupants of the UTV for not wearing or fastening the seat belt (which is often called a safety belt) in Platteville.  

This is different from the motor vehicle, whose fine is $10 for not wearing a seat belt under Wisconsin seat belt law. But those provisions are not applicable to the UTVs. 

Wisconsin Seat Belt Law

Let me introduce you all to the Wisconsin seat belt laws which are applicable to motor vehicles and automobiles.

This law deals with provisions for wearing seat belts for motor vehicles and automobiles in Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin seat belt law has become primary enforcement law from 30 June 2009.

This means this law will not just cause citations, like secondary laws, but if not followed, the ticketing of the driver and passengers can be done by police and authorities. Which makes the law strict.

Provisions under Wisconsin seat belt law

Here are all the provisions under Wisconsin seat belt law. These are applicable only for motor vehicles and automobiles.

For vehicles: 

• The Wisconsin seat belt law requires all automobiles sold in wisconsin to have seat belts. The seat belts are referred to as safety belts in the law. 
• Motor vehicles in Wisconsin cannot be sold, given on lease or bought if they do not have the seat belts. 
• These seat belts should be as per 49 CFR 571. The type 2 seat belts should be installed in these vehicles. Front and back seats should be having these seat belts.  
• Remember that if you ride a motor vehicle which is not equipped with the seat belts from the manufacturer, then also the driver is responsible and you can be fined. 

For Vehicle Users: 

• For motor vehicles, all drivers who drive the vehicle must wear the seat belt. The passengers should also wear seat belts. The passengers more than 4 years of age should wear seat belts. The passengers who are in the front seat and rear seats, the law and penalty is equal to both. 
• Just wearing the seat belt is not sufficient, but all passengers and drivers should fasten the seat belt. The seat belt should be fastened to fit the person. 
• The law is applicable to all the residents, and non residents. Means those who are Wisconsin citizens and those who are not, must follow the Wisconsin seat belt law. 

Exemptions for the Wisconsin seat belt law 

Though Wisconsin seat belt law is strict enough, there are some exemptions to it. Following are the vehicles that are exempted from Wisconsin seat belt law. 

• The Wisconsin seat belt law is not applicable to vehicles which require to stop more than 10 miles for their employment, taxicab services, vehicles used in delivery services, vehicles used in highway land surveys, farm trucks. 
• Also those passengers or drivers who cannot be restrained due to their physical or mental conditions, are exempted from this law. 

Penalties for violation of Wisconsin UTV seat belt laws

If any passengers, drivers, vehicle owners violate the Wisconsin UTV seat belt law they will be subjected to penalty/fine. 

• It can cost you $10 for not wearing the seat belt. However, a vehicle’s driving record will not be affected by it. No points will be assigned against the driver’s record. 
• The penalty is not just for the driver but also for the passengers, between the unrestrained drivers with passengers, of age of 4 to 16 years old. This is also applicable to passengers who are at least 16 years old. 
• But if the passengers include less than 4 years old, the fine can go at least $30 because it is a violation of child passenger law in Wisconsin. The fine amount can be either more than $30 or more than $75. So you should consider $30 as a lower cap for Wisconsin UTV seat belt law. 
• What if passengers are children more than 4 years to 8 years of age. At this instance, the fine for Wisconsin seat belt law violation is not less than $10 or $25 or more.’

Conclusion: 

To conclude, it is clear that UTV occupants need to wear the seat belt. But it is not mandatory for UTV drivers, but mandatory for UTV passengers.

If you have children and you violate the seat belt law, it is a violation of child passenger law. The penalties for seat belt law can range from $10 to $150 based on the offense. 

If I could go back in time, I’d definitely click on this How to Transfer Ownership of a UTV in Wisconsin. It’s the one thing standing between you and possibly wasting thousands on something that doesn’t measure up.

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