Lambton OPP officials allege: All provinces in Canada have primary enforcement seat belt laws which allow a police officer to stop and ticket if they observe a violation.
Ontario was the first province to pass such a law requiring vehicle occupants to wear seat belts which came into effect on January 1, 1976.
In Ontario, a driver can be charged and face a fine between $240-$1,000 and two demerit points if they or any of their passengers under the age of 16 are not wearing a seatbelt or secured in a proper child car seat.
Adult passengers not wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle may also be charged and face the same penalty.
Between the May Long Weekend to present day, the Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has observed a shocking increase in passenger seatbelt violations.
In 2024, the Lambton County OPP issued 229 passenger seatbelt violations compared to 35 during the same time period in 2023.
The Lambton County OPP would like to remind the public that properly wearing a seatbelt provides you, your family and other passengers your best chance of surviving a collision and reducing fatalities and injuries on our roads.
The OPP strives to be a leader in traffic safety and is dedicated and committed to finding new, innovative ways to reduce the number of lives lost on Ontario roads.
