The District of Columbia has one of the strongest, most comprehensive seat belt laws in the nation. Metropolitan Police Department notes that District law allows police to stop a vehicle solely because its drivers and passengers are not properly buckled up. So in the District of Columbia (DC) a seat belt violation is a primary offense.

The DC Metropolitan PD states that the ticket amount for a seat belt violation is $50 and it is also 2 points on your DC driving record. This penalty is for drivers and all passengers, in front and back seats for not having their seat belt properly buckled at all times.

DC drivers are responsible for seat belt compliance for all passengers in their vehicle. Drivers who fail to properly secure their child passengers face even stiffer penalties: a $75 fine and 2 points for a first offense, and a $150 fine for fourth and subsequent offenses. DC law now requires that all children under the age of 8 be properly seated in an infant, toddler or booster seat, and that 8- to 16-year-olds be secured with a safety belt.

In DC points stay on a driving record for two years. Negative points for convictions of traffic violations are not deducted from a DC motor vehicle record (MVR) but added to it and if you get too many your driving privileges can be at risk. If you accumulate 10 points, your DC license will be suspended and you will lose your driving privileges for a period of 90 days. Your driving privileges are suspended until they have been officially reinstated. If you accumulate 12 or more points, your DC license will be revoked for six months. Your driving privileges are revoked until they have been officially reinstated.

The District of Columbia does allow for safe driving points though, so if you have these already accumulated on your DC license than they could be taken away (deducted) in place of you receiving negative points on your MVR.

In DC, you are eligible for one safe driving point for any calendar year in which you were not assessed a moving violation point and maintained a valid DC driver's license for the entire calendar year. Safe driving points will be used to offset existing or new moving violation points. Any unused safe driving points expire in 5 years. The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notes that DC driver record reflects all safe driving points earned and used.

You can contact the court that is listed on your Georgetown seat belt citation to see if you will owe only $50 for the ticket or if there are other court costs and fees that make the amount due higher. You can also contact the DC DMV to get information on if you have safe driving points they will deduct or if you will get 2 points added to your MVR.

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