The bill proposes the repeal of existing laws that require adult occupants of motor vehicles in forward motion to wear safety belts. Specifically, it seeks to eliminate sections 32-38-1 through 32-38-5 of South Dakota law, which mandate that every operator and front seat passenger of a passenger vehicle must wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belt system while the vehicle is in motion. The bill also removes definitions related to passenger vehicles and exemptions for certain occupants, such as those in older vehicles or those with medical conditions.

By repealing these provisions, the bill effectively removes the legal obligation for adults to wear safety belts in moving vehicles, along with the associated penalties and enforcement mechanisms. This change would mean that non-compliance with safety belt usage would no longer be considered a traffic offense, nor could it be used as evidence in civil or criminal cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/16/2025: 32-38-1, 32-38-2, 32-38-3, 32-38-4, 32-38-5