Section 660. Seat belts

A. Definitions:

"Bus" means a motor vehicle with motive power designed to carry more than 10 persons.

"Designated seating position" means any plain view (looking down from the top) location intended by the manufacturer to provide seating accommodations while the vehicle is in motion, except auxiliary seating accommodations as temporary or folding jump seats.

"Front outboard designated seating positions" means those designated seating positions for the driver and outside front seat passenger (except for trucks which have the passenger seat nearest the passenger side door separated from the door by a passageway used to access the cargo area.)

"GVWR" means gross vehicle weight rating as specified by the manufacturer (loaded weight of a single vehicle.)

"Multipurpose passenger vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is (i) designed to carry no more than 10 persons and (ii) constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road use. This shall include a minivan.

"Open-body type vehicle" means a vehicle having no occupant compartment top or an occupant compartment top that can be installed or removed by the user at his convenience.

"Rear outboard front facing designated seating positions" means those designated seating positions for passengers in outside front facing seats behind the driver and front passenger seat, except any designated seating position adjacent to a walkway, that is located between the seat and the nearside of the vehicle and is designated to allow access to more rearward seating positions.

"Truck" means a motor vehicle with motive power designed primarily for the transportation of property or special purpose equipment.

B. Passive Restraint System:

Inflatable occupant restraint (commonly known as air bags).

Passive belt system (automatic deployment around the occupant after the occupant enters the vehicle and closes the door).

Inspect for and reject if:

1. Not of an approved type.

2. Installation not in compliance as follows:

a. All motor vehicle seat belt anchorages and attachment hardware must meet the standards and specifications set forth by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 209, for such anchorages and attachment hardware.

b. Any questions concerning the proper installation of seat belt assemblies should be directed to the nearest Safety Division office.

3. Any of the following motor vehicles manufactured on or after July 1, 1971, not having a lap seat belt assembly for each designated seating position:

a. Open-body type vehicles;

b. Walk-in van type trucks;

c. Trucks (GVWR in excess of 10,000 pounds);

d. Multipurpose passenger vehicles (GVWR in excess of 10,000 pounds).

4. Any buses manufactured on or after July 1, 1971, not having a lap seat belt assembly for the driver's seating position.

5. All other motor vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1976, except those for which requirements are specified in subdivisions 3 and 4 of this subsection, not having lap/shoulder or harness seat belt assemblies installed for each front outboard designated seating position.

Those vehicles originally equipped and sold by the manufacturer with only a lap belt installed for each designated seating position, in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, will be deemed to be in compliance with this section.

6. Any seat belt buckle, webbing, or mounting is cut, torn, frayed, or no longer operates properly.

7. Any seat belt anchorage is loose, badly corroded, missing or not fastened to belt.

8. Any truck, multi-purpose vehicle, or bus (except school buses and motor homes) with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less, manufactured on or after September 1, 1991, is not equipped with a lap/shoulder seatbelt assembly at all forward facing rear outboard designated seating positions.

9. Any of the heretofore described vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 1992, are not equipped with lap/shoulder seatbelt assembly located at all forward facing rear outboard designated seating positions on a readily removable seat.

C. Air bag and air bag readiness light. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Air bag. Any defects in the air bag system are noted by the air bag readiness light or otherwise indicated;

2. The air bag has been deployed and has not been replaced (and is not deactivated because of a medical or other exemption and a notice is posted to indicate that it has been deactivated);

3. Any part of the air bag system has been removed from the vehicle; or

4. If the air bag indicator fails to light or stays on continuously.

NOTE: Air bag readiness light. Turn the ignition key to the on position; the air bag readiness light will indicate normal operation by lighting for six to eight seconds, then turning off. A system malfunction is indicated by the flashing or continuous illumination of the readiness light or failure of the light to turn on.

NOTE: Any vehicle not originally manufactured with an air bag readiness light shall not be rejected for not having this item.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR545-01-07 § 66, eff. May 1, 1990; amended, Volume 10, Issue 08, eff. February 9, 1994; Volume 24, Issue 08, eff. March 1, 2008; Volume 28, Issue 24, eff. August 1, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1165 of the Code of Virginia.