Seat Belts Not Used
Legal Definition
A person commits this violation when they operate or ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle on a New Mexico roadway without wearing a properly fastened safety belt or child restraint system as required by law. New Mexico law mandates that drivers and all passengers use seat belts, and that children under certain ages or sizes be secured in appropriate child passenger restraint systems.
Possible Punishment
Fine of $25. This is a primary enforcement violation, meaning law enforcement may stop a vehicle solely for observing a seat belt violation. No jail time is authorized for this infraction.
Local Context
Certain exemptions apply, including for persons with medical conditions certified by a physician, occupants of vehicles manufactured before 1965, rural letter carriers, and passengers in the back seat of vehicles manufactured before model year 2001. The statute also contains specific requirements for child passenger restraint systems based on age and weight.
Criminal Traffic Cases in Doña Ana County
Not every traffic offense is a ticket. Driving on a suspended or revoked license, reckless driving, and fleeing an officer are criminal charges that end in booking rather than a citation, and they appear constantly in our feed. Suspended-license charges in particular tend to snowball: unpaid fines lead to suspension, driving anyway leads to arrest, and missing the court date adds a bench warrant.
Criminal traffic cases are heard in Las Cruces Municipal Court for city violations and Doña Ana Magistrate Court for state charges. If alcohol or drugs are involved, the case moves into DWI territory with its own mandatory penalties.
Related Guides
Bench Warrants and Failure to Appear in New Mexico: How a Missed Court Date Becomes a Booking
What a bench warrant is, how it differs from an arrest warrant, why FTA bookings fill the Doña Ana County jail log, and how to clear a warrant before arrest.
DWI Arrests in New Mexico: Penalties, Aggravated DWI, and the MVD Clock
What a New Mexico DWI arrest means: legal limits, first-offense penalties, aggravated DWI, felony DWI, and the separate MVD license hearing deadline.
Recent Arrests for This Charge (5)
Mesilla Park Man, 34, Booked on Multiple Misdemeanor Charges in Las Cruces
MOISES GALLARDO | 5 charges
Las Cruces Man, 32, Charged with Open Container
ALEXANDRO GALLEGOS | 6 charges
Sunland Park Woman, 31, Charged with Court Commitment
NATALIE SANCHEZ | 5 charges
Las Cruces Woman, 65, Charged with No Insurance
DIANE HOLCOMB | 4 charges
Las Cruces Man, 20, Booked on Felony Warrant and Assault on an Officer
ELIJAH ISSAYAH FILES MESA | 5 charges
Information provided for general reference. Statutory text is summarized and may not reflect the most recent amendments. All persons listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.