Question about seatbelts..... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

yahoo · 01-24-2008, 04:10 PM

I am wondering if you are driving a vehicle say a minivan and there are 9 people and only seat belts for 7, if you get pulled over are you in violation, and will tickets be issued?

My family had a debate over this at Christmas, I would think you would get tickets......

CubicleGeek · 01-24-2008, 04:12 PM

Pretty sure that is illegal. Just like cramming 6 people in a 2-row seat SUV mean for 5.

J pold · 01-24-2008, 04:12 PM

As I understand it you cannot have more passengers than there are seat belts… but that could just be GDL licenses

yahoo · 01-24-2008, 04:14 PM

My brother's statement was what if you are a family just trying to make it, all the belts are being used up but there are too many people, can you pack more people in then...

Jayems · 01-24-2008, 04:16 PM

Well, I think since it's illegal to be in a moving vehicle without a seat belt, then there isn't much debate there. Car flips over, well... 2 people will still fly out. Also, you can't ever say 100% you would or wouldn't get a ticket because there is discretion on the cops behalf.. unless if its a kid not buckled up, then you can guarantee a ticket.

I'm not sure if you can share a belt, and then it becomes okay.

CaptainCrunch · 01-24-2008, 04:17 PM

Holy crap does your family work for the clown industry?

Jayems · 01-24-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Holy crap does your family work for the clown industry?

GoinAllTheWay · 01-24-2008, 04:19 PM

I've contaced the police in the past about this and was told that as long all available seat belts have been used up, it's ok to have additional passengers. Not safe but not illlegal either. Last time I checked anyways.

FireFly · 01-24-2008, 04:20 PM

My understanding from a girl I know who works with the traffic cops is that if all the seatbelts are in use, you can't get a ticket for not using one. That doesn't make it safe.

FireFly · 01-24-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I've contaced the police in the past about this and was told that as long all available seat belts have been used up, it's ok to have additional passengers. Not safe but not illlegal either. Last time I checked anyways.

Bingo. Hit the nail on the head.

J pold · 01-24-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yahoo

My brother's statement was what if you are a family just trying to make it, all the belts are being used up but there are too many people, can you pack more people in then...

This sounds along the line of, it’s ok to steak a loaf of bread to feed a starving family

mykalberta · 01-24-2008, 04:22 PM

I think you need the number of passengers not to exceed the number of functional seatbelts, however I dont know how that would apply to people who ride in the back of trucks.

Personally I think it would be irresponsible for a family not to have an adequate number of seatbelts for everyone in the family on a regular basis.

Jayems · 01-24-2008, 04:24 PM

colour me surprised. Well, when you're wrong your're wrong.

Temporary_User · 01-24-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I've contaced the police in the past about this and was told that as long all available seat belts have been used up, it's ok to have additional passengers. Not safe but not illlegal either. Last time I checked anyways.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

My understanding from a girl I know who works with the traffic cops is that if all the seatbelts are in use, you can't get a ticket for not using one. That doesn't make it safe.

This is what I've been told in the past. I've seen and been in many trucks with only one bench, but crammed 4 deep. Basically every landscaping company that I've been apart of operated like this.

You Need a Thneed · 01-24-2008, 04:30 PM

When graduated licenses came out, one of the things that was graduated was exactly this, in your first 2 years (or whatever the length of time is) you cannot have more people in the vehicle than there is seatbelts.

I think we've had 14 or so people in a crew cab truck while driving to the dropoff point for mountain biking. Not sure if all the seatbelts were being used.

I remember being riding with about 15 in an aerostar van with the seats in, and about 22 in a safari van with the back benches taken out.

yahoo · 01-24-2008, 04:34 PM

Interesting, it may vary province to province as well, we don't have that big of a family, it is just one of the debates that came up.....

wpgflamesfan · 01-24-2008, 04:34 PM

I got pulled over for having 5 people in the back seat of my car when I was the designated driver one night. The cop was gonna give me a ticket for it but i explained that i originally had only three people in the back seat but the other two were drunk and in no shape to drive home from a party and i felt that it would be irresponsible of me to not give them a ride and he was cool about the whole situation.

fredr123 · 01-24-2008, 04:37 PM

Vehicle Equipment Regulation

Part 3
Seat Belts
Definitions
77 In sections 78, 79 and 80,
(a) “child” means a child under 6 years old;
(b) “motor vehicle” does not include a motor cycle or moped;
(c) “seat belt assembly” means a device or assembly that
(i) is securely fastened to a motor vehicle,
(ii) is composed of straps, webbing or similar material and includes a pelvic restraint or an upper torso restraint, or both,
(iii) is capable of restraining the movement of a person in order to prevent or mitigate injury to the person, and
(iv) meets the standards prescribed under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act.
Seat belts required
78(1) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle in which a child who weighs 18 kilograms or less is a passenger unless
(a) the motor vehicle is equipped with a child seating assembly,
(b) the child seating assembly is properly installed, and
(c) the child is properly secured in the child seating assembly.
(2) If a motor vehicle is being driven and it has a seat belt assembly
(a) in the driver’s seat position, the driver shall wear the complete seat belt assembly, and
(b) in the passenger seat position, the passenger shall wear the complete seat belt assembly.
(3) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle that has a seat belt assembly in the passenger seat position unless the passenger in the seat is wearing the complete seat belt assembly if the passenger
(a) is 6 years old or older but under the age of 16 years, or
(b) is a child who weighs more than 18 kilograms.
(4) A person who is required to wear a seat belt assembly under subsection (2) or (3) shall wear the seat belt assembly properly adjusted and securely fastened.
(5) A person shall not, with respect to a seat belt assembly in a motor vehicle, remove it, render it partly or wholly inoperative or modify it so as to reduce its effectiveness if the motor vehicle was equipped with the seat belt assembly at the time it was manufactured as required by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act.
(6) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle that was equipped with a seat belt assembly at the time it was manufactured as required by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act if the seat belt assembly has been removed, rendered partly or wholly inoperative or modified so as to reduce its effectiveness.
(7) A person shall not drive or operate a motor vehicle in which a seat belt assembly that was installed at the time it was manufactured has been replaced unless the replacement meets the standards required by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act.
Seat belt installation
79 A person must install seat belts or seat belt systems in a motor vehicle in such a way that they and their installation comply with the requirements for seat belts and their installation under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act.
Seating assembly standards
80 The Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act are adopted and apply to seatbelt assemblies and child seating assemblies in motor vehicles.
Exempt motor vehicles
81(1) Section 78 does not apply to the following:
(a) motor vehicles that were not designed or equipped with seat belt assemblies by their manufacturers;
(b) motor vehicles while they are driven in reverse;
(c) motor vehicles when they are used in the course of making deliveries or picking up items, while they are driven at a speed of not more than 40 kilometres per hour;
(d) motor vehicles while they are driven in a parade authorized by a municipality.
(2) Section 78(1) does not apply to
(a) taxis;
(b) emergency vehicles;
(c) motor vehicles that are rented or leased for periods of not more than 14 consecutive days at a time.

FlamesKickAss · 01-24-2008, 04:38 PM

This makes no sense that as long as you have more people and all the seatbelts are used. It should be you are full once you reach that limit. The drunk one I can see but with most cars it is too crowded to have more people than seatbelts ro be safe. That being said I have been in a 94 cavalier with 9 people

sparky69 · 01-24-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

I got pulled over for having 5 people in the back seat of my car when I was the designated driver one night. The cop was gonna give me a ticket for it but i explained that i originally had only three people in the back seat but the other two were drunk and in no shape to drive home from a party and i felt that it would be irresponsible of me to not give them a ride and he was cool about the whole situation.

well i dont know about u.. but i was The DD one night to... had a extra person in my back seat, got pulled oover and the cop gave my friend who didnt have a seat belt a ticket... i tried to explain that i was the DD and all but he was happy about, then almost gave my other friend a ticket for puking on the road way in front of him.. good times