This morning on the way to school My friends mom pulled up to an intersection where three squads cars were waiting. I was sitting in the back seat and i did not have my seat belt on at the time. I am 15 years old and the officer continued to write me a ticket and said that i must appear in court with my parents. When i got to school i did some research on the law and from what i interpredid the law as if i am younger than 16 and not sitting in the front passenger seat than i am not responsible. I was wondering if the officer was mistaken or i misinterpreted the law.
please respond
kevin
Kevin, since you were in the back seat of the car, I am assuming the violation written to you was under the Child Passenger Protection Act 625 ILCS 25/4a. This section says that every person, when transporting a child 8 years or older, but under the age of 16, shall be responsible for properly securing that child in seat belts.
As such, the ticket should be written to the operator of the motor vehicle. Based on this limited information, I would agree with your research. If you were sitting in the back seat, and this section was used, you should not have been ticketed, the citation should have gone to the driver of the vehicle.
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