United States Department of Transportation
i
Evaluation of Louisiana’s Safety Belt Law Change to Primary Enforcement
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1997-09-01
[PDF-4.99 MB]
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Edition:Final report
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Abstract:Some states allow an officer to stop a vehicle for an observed belt law violation alone (primary enforcement). Most require that the initial stop be made for some other violation before a belt law citation can be issued (secondary enforcement). On November 1, 1995, Louisiana became the second state to implement an uninterrupted change from secondary to primary belt law enforcement. In the five Louisiana communities studied, the percentage of front seat occupants observed wearing seat belts increased from 52 percent prior to the law change to 68 percent six months after the change. Police officers participating in focus groups indicated that they were pleased with the change to primary enforcement and had received little or no negative public reaction. Most of the 2,499 drivers surveyed at OMV offices indicated that they knew they could be stopped for a belt law violation and that the law was being strictly enforced. The present results, combined with results obtained earlier in California, suggest that a secondary enforcement state can achieve a substantial increase in belt use by changing to primary enforcement. /Abstract from report summary page/
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