what is the law on seatbelts for cops in ny do they have to wear the belts while driving in the police car?

Answer 1

Of course! Are they aloud to break laws just because there in a police car?

Answer 2

All agencies require their officers to follow the law they are paid to enforce. A county where I live requires all county employees to wear a seat belt when they are at work. On the same note. if a cop is rolling up to an accident or a disturbance, they can take off the seat belt as they roll up. Most states will have a law on the books that state that a police officer does not need to follow the traffic rules as long as they are actually performing enforcement duites. That does not mean just driving around to another cold burglary.

Answer 3

Cops are not exempt from the law. The sad thing is that they think they are. A cop will not stop another cop and give them a ticket for it, but technically they are required to wear it. Even whe you take the test to be a cop they make you sit in the car with the belt on and you have to take it off to start the course.

Answer 4

It is a safety issue.

Police often have to bail out of the car to chase someone or get out in a hurry. A lot of times your equpitment gets caught up on the seat belt when you exit. There is nothing like bailing out of the car after someone and your gun get snagged on the seat belt when you get out. It is a hard sudden stop. I have done it many of times! You never know when you have to exit fast.

Another reason is because sometimes you just can't fit inside the seat with all of the equiptment on. It is very restriting with the vest and belt, etc.

Also it is hard to draw your pistol on your side when the seatbelt latch is blocking it.

I know it is a double standard to have the law, but the police don't do it. I take the extra time to wear it. I believe in them, but also realize I put put myself in a lot of danger when I do wear it, but I also realize the fact that I may be in an accident more times than I will draw my gun or bail out on someone.

Answer 5

*** I can't tell you exactly for NY, but I will say, most states have alot of rules that exempt certain people from the seat belt rules, drivers who do alot of stops ( like Fex Ex and UPS) are normally exepempt by law not to have to wear a seat belt

This is state laws , there is no federal law.

Also this exemption applies in the states I know of, also to police officers,

Actually most police officers are taught in survial training, not to wear a seat belt because it interferes with thier ability to draw thier weapon from a seated position.

some police departments have department rules thier officers are to wear them, some have rules thier officers are not to wear them.

I have tried to pull my weapon sitting in a car ( with the safety holsters police wear) it is hard enough sitting, with a seat belt on it is almost impossible.

So I would never expect an officer to wear one.

Answer 6

Being that it's the law to wear seatbelts in NY, they should be wearing them if their driving.

Answer 7

They are exempt from wearing them as per NYS VTL law , as are all emergency vehicle operators (fire trucks,ambulances,etc) ,taxi/livery drivers , bus drivers(except school bus drivers) and rural letter carriers.

Answer 8

Yep!