re: #43 Decatur Deb

For that matter is SC even a “primary” state, one where a seat belt violation can trigger a stop? (That’s opposed to states that may only write a belt violation if you’re stopped for something else.)

It is a primary enforcement state…

As of December 9, 2005, South Carolina’s safety belt law changed from secondary enforcement to primary enforcement. What does this mean to a motorist? Under the old law, an officer could only cite a motorist for a safety belt violation if the motorist had been stopped for another violation. The new primary law, however, gives law enforcement officers the authority to stop a driver if the officer has a clear and unobstructed view of a driver or occupant of a motor vehicle not wearing a safety belt or not secured in a child restraint system.