Seat Belt Use

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial judge sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-22-22(g) (Safety Belt use- Operator).  The Defendant argued that he did not have the shoulder strap portion of the belt across his chest because of a shoulder injury, but that he did have the waist portion of the belt properly buckled.  The Panel held that even if the operator had the waist strap fastened, he was still in violation of the statute because he did not have the requisite letter from a physician excusing him from wearing the shoulder strap for physical or medical reasons as the statute required. Accordingly, the Panel sustained the charged violation.

State of Rhode Island v. Jorge Rivera, C.A. No. T12-0082 (July 16, 2013).pdf