Full Notification

For Immediate Release

Governor Sonny Perdue Signed Seatbelt Legislation

(Paulding County, GA) On Thursday, June 3, 2010, Governor Sonny Perdue signed Senate Bill 458; legislation removing the truck exemption for seatbelts in Georgia.

In a release Governor Perdue noted, “Pick-ups have changed over the years, and are often used to get back and forth to work on an everyday basis. Today, they are out on our expressways and bypasses, as well as farms. We all recognize that seatbelts save lives. With this legislation we look to continuing to build a ‘Safer Georgia’ for the next generation.”

Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge is reminding drivers that SB 458 removes the pickup truck exemption from the law requiring seatbelts to be worn when driving Georgia roads. Georgia’s new Primary Safety Belt Law now requires Georgia’s pickup truck drivers and occupants to buckle their safety belts along with all other Georgia vehicle occupants. This legislation excludes motorcycles, motor driven cycles, off road vehicles and pickup trucks being used in connection with agricultural pursuits.

This bill became law as soon as Governor Perdue signed it Thursday afternoon. Georgia no longer holds the title as the last hold-out state in the nation with this deadly exemption to a Primary Safety Belt Law.