What is the penalty for not wearing a seat belt in the passenger seat?
3 Answers
Not wearing a seat belt in the passenger seat will result in a fine. Seat Belt: The function of the seat belt is to restrain movement and provide cushioning, absorbing impact energy and mitigating inertial forces to prevent or reduce the degree of injury to the driver and passengers. Seat Belt Principle: When a strong frontal collision occurs, due to inertia, the driver and passengers' bodies move forward rapidly. At this point, the seat belt will exert force to "pull back" the bodies, absorbing part of the impact energy, while the airbag inflates and fully deploys at "lightning speed." Subsequently, the upper bodies of the driver and passengers sink into the airbag, and gas begins to escape uniformly from the airbag's exhaust ports, absorbing most of the impact energy.
Last time I drove my friends out, the one in the front passenger seat wasn't wearing a seatbelt and got pulled over by traffic police, resulting in a 50-yuan fine. Later, I specifically checked the regulations and found that penalties vary by location—for example, Shenzhen can impose a 500-yuan fine plus demerit points, while most cities fine between 20 and 200 yuan. The key is understanding who gets penalized: some places fine the passenger, others the driver, and there are even cases where both get fined. Honestly, seatbelts are really important—once when I had to brake hard, my friend in the passenger seat almost hit the windshield. Now, the moment I start the car, my first words are always a reminder to buckle up. A fine is a small matter, but if something serious happens, you'll regret it for life.
A few days ago, I was driving my family to the hospital when the passenger forgot to fasten the seatbelt and got caught by an electronic eye. I immediately received a text notification to pay a 100-yuan fine. Nowadays, many cities rely on high-definition cameras for automatic enforcement, making it nearly impossible to escape. According to traffic regulations, not wearing a seatbelt is a violation of the law, punishable by a warning for minor cases or a 200-yuan fine for more serious ones. I recommend everyone develop the habit of buckling up as soon as they get in the car, especially on short trips where it’s easy to overlook. If you do get fined, don’t argue—handling it within 15 days might even get you a discount. Also, if you have unpaid fines during your annual vehicle inspection, it could cause delays and become a bigger headache later.
