New York Taxi Seat Belt and Car Seat Law

Up until 2017, licensed taxis were exempt from any New York seat belt laws. Meaning, taxi drivers or any of its passengers did not have to wear a seat belt. Babies can just be held in a lap. In 2017, a new law passed that required the driver and front seat passenger to wear a seat belt. The exemption for back seat passengers remained. In 2020, the New York State legislature further enhanced New York seat belt laws and required all passengers to wear seat belts. For taxis, they require anybody over 8 years old to wear a seat belt. However, the ticket for a minor passenger not wearing a seat belt is issued to the parent or guardian, not the cab driver. It appears that this applies to ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.

If you receive a seat belt ticket, please feel free to contact the Benjamin Goldman Law Office. We are a New York traffic ticket law firm that helps taxi drivers in the five boroughs and elsewhere in the state, as far as Champlain and Niagara Falls. Our firm works hard for each client as attested by our many five star reviews. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office provides all motorists with a free consultation. You can contact us at your convenience.