2021 Montana Legislature
_____________ bill NO. _____________
INTRODUCED
BY _________________________________________________
By Request of the ****
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT OF SEATBELT LAWS; REQUIRING ADULT PASSENGERS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES; and AMENDING SECTIONS 46-5-502, 61-13-103, AND 61-13-104, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 46-5-502, MCA, is amended to read:
"46-5-502. Authority to establish temporary roadblocks. (1) A law enforcement agency of this state is authorized to establish, within its jurisdiction, temporary roadblocks on the highways of this state to:
(a) apprehend persons known to be wanted for a violation of the laws of this state, of any other state, or of the United States;
(b) except as provided in 7-33-2212, respond to an active emergency; or
(c) respond to or mitigate conditions in areas where a significant number of known causal factors of motor vehicle accidents involving fatalities, injuries, or other serious legal violations are known to have occurred.
(2) During a temporary roadblock, verification of a valid driver's license, vehicle registration, and insurance may be required.
(3) In the course of conducting a roadblock under subsection (1)(c), a law enforcement officer may not issue a ticket, citation, or summons for a secondary offense.
(4) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Active emergency" means an incident that threatens public safety, health, or welfare and requires immediate action.
(b) "Secondary offense" means a violation of an offense, including a violation of 61-13-103, for which a law enforcement officer may only issue a ticket, citation, or summons after the driver has already been stopped for a violation of another offense."
Section 2. Section 61-13-103, MCA, is amended to read:
"61-13-103. Seatbelt use required -- exceptions. (1) (a) A driver may not operate a motor vehicle upon a highway of the state of Montana unless each occupant of a designated seating position who is under 18 years of age is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or, if 61-9-420 applies, is properly restrained in a child safety restraint.
(b) An adult may not ride in a designated seating position of a motor vehicle unless wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt.
(2) The provisions of this section do not apply to:
(a) an occupant of a motor vehicle who possesses a written statement from a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, as defined in 37-8-102, that the occupant is unable to wear a seatbelt for medical reasons;
(b) an occupant of a motor vehicle in which all seatbelts are being used by other occupants;
(c) an operator of a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle;
(d) an occupant of a vehicle licensed as special mobile equipment; or
(e) an occupant who makes frequent stops with a motor vehicle during official job duties and who may be exempted by the department.
(3) The department or its agent may not require a driver who may be in violation of this section to stop except:
(a) upon reasonable cause to believe that the driver has violated another traffic regulation or that the driver's vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law; or
(b) if a person in the vehicle who is under 6 years of age and weighs less than 60 pounds is not properly restrained under 61-9-420 or this section."
Section 3. Section 61-13-104, MCA, is amended to read:
"61-13-104. Penalty -- no record permitted. (1) A driver person who violates 61-13-103 shall be fined $20, but the violation is not a misdemeanor pursuant to 45-2-101, 46-18-236, 61-8-104, or 61-8-711. A violation of 61-13-103 may not be counted as a moving violation for purposes of suspending a driver's license under 61-11-203(2)(m). Bond for this offense is $20, and a jail sentence may not be imposed.
(2) A violation of 61-13-103 may not be recorded or charged against the driver's record of a person violating 61-13-103.
(3) An insurance company may not hold a violation of 61-13-103 against the insured or increase the insured's premiums due to a violation of 61-13-103."