When Are You Legally Allowed to NOT Wear a Seat Belt in WA?
Buckle Up!
It's something engraved into our heads when we get in the car to drive anywhere, you gotta put on your seat belt.
Yes, there was a time in the 80s I remember it seemed like seat belts were optional but I won't even put the car out of park until all my kids are safely buckled now.
I do know a few people who refuse to wear their seat belt. Unsurprisingly, it's never kids, but adults who probably grew up in that era where they weren't required to wear a seat belt.
Washington State is one of the 34 states that has a seat belt law. This means they can pull you over and give you a citation just for that. Not like one of those 'we pulled you over for a broken tail light, but now that we're here we also notice you're not wearing a seat belt' kind of things. If you're not wearing a seat belt and they notice, they can pull you over which could cost you $124.
But if you have just cause for not wearing one, you should be fine.
What are the WA State Law Exemptions for Wearing a Seat Belt?
According to I Drive Safely it's okay to not wear your safety belt if you have a doctor's note. I'm not exactly sure what medical or health reason would exist for this to happen, but it can happen.
From the WSL site, RCW 46.61.688:
(8) The state patrol may adopt rules exempting operators or occupants of farm vehicles, construction equipment, and vehicles that are required to make frequent stops from the requirement of wearing safety belts.
This would include postal drivers for USPS, UPS and things of that nature. I suppose ice cream trucks may be included, too. If a passenger is delivering newspapers that could also work as well. I believe it's because it's stopping frequently it never builds up enough speed to make it too dangerous. But any speed without a seat belt could still be bad news.
KEEP LOOKING: See What 50 of America's Most 'Pupular' Dog Breeds Look Like as Puppies
LOOK: Controversial songs from the year you were born
Stacker celebrates history's most boundary-pushing—and thereby controversial—songs from 1930 through today.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
These 50 US Cities are Crawling with Bed Bugs
Every year the pest control gurus at Orkin put together a list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Destinations in the United States. Which areas do you travel to that you should take extra care to watch out for these blood-sucking insects? Let's countdown to the most bed-bug-riddled city in the United States.
Gallery Credit: Scott Clow
LOOK: 50 cozy towns to visit this winter
Stacker created a list of 50 cozy American towns to visit each winter. Towns were selected based on visitor opinions, ratings from nationwide publications, and tourist attractions.
Gallery Credit: Laura Ratliff
Most popular grocery stores in America
Gallery Credit: Stacker
LOOK: 20 of the biggest insects in the world
Stacker compiled a list of 20 of the biggest insects in the world using a variety of news, scientific, and other sources.
Gallery Credit: Andrea Vale
Quiz: Do you know your state insect?
Stacker has used a variety of sources to compile a list of the official state insect(s) of each U.S. state, as well as their unique characteristics. Read on to see if you can guess which insect(s) represent your state.
Gallery Credit: Andrew Vale
LOOK: This is where homes are selling the fastest right now
Stacker compiled a list of the metros where houses are selling the fastest, according to data from Redfin.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
WOOF: These are the most popular dog breeds in America
Stacker highlights the 100 most popular dog breeds in America based on data released March 15, 2023 from the American Kennel Club.
Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman
LOOK: Here are the states where you are most likely to hit an animal
Hitting an animal while driving is a frightening experience, and this list ranks all 50 states in order of the likelihood of such incidents happening, in addition to providing tips on how to avoid them.
Gallery Credit: Dom DiFurio & Jacob Osborn
QUIZ: Can you identify 50 famous companies by their logos?
How well do you know the logos of 50 of the world's most famous companies? Keep scrolling to see if you can guess which icon belongs to which brand.
LOOK: 20 American foods that raise eyebrows outside of the US
Stacker compiled a list of 20 unusual and uniquely American foods that might raise eyebrows outside the U.S.
Gallery Credit: Charlotte Barnett
LOOK: 25 must-visit hidden gems from across the US
From secret gardens to underground caves, Stacker compiled a list of 25 must-visit hidden gems from across the United States using travel guides, news articles, and company websites.
Gallery Credit: Abby Monteil
LOOK: The 25 least expensive states to live in
Here are the top 25 states with the lowest cost of living in 2022, using data Stacker culled from the Council for Community and Economic Research.
Gallery Credit: Aubrey Jane McClaine
LOOK: Baby boomer baby names that have gone out of style
Using info from the Social Security Administration's baby name database, Stacker compiled a list of baby boomer baby names that have declined in popularity.
Gallery Credit: Elizabeth Jackson
LOOK: Here's where people in every state are moving to most
Gallery Credit: Amanda Silvestri
25 richest families in America
Gallery Credit: Taylor Johnson
LOOK: Must-do activities at every national park
Stacker lists the must-do activities at every national park ranked by the annual number of visitors.
Gallery Credit: Angela Underwood
States with the most registered hunters
Stacker analyzed data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which states have the most registered hunters. Read on to see how your state ranks on Stacker’s list.
Gallery Credit: Meagan Drillinger
LOOK: Baby names that are illegal around the world
Stacker scoured hundreds of baby name databases and news releases to curate a list of baby names that are illegal somewhere in the world, along with explanations for why they’re banned.
Gallery Credit: Annalise Mantz
LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades
Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.
Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF
LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving
To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.
Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.
Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli
LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state
Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.
Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.
Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi
LOOK: Oldest Disneyland Rides From 1955 to Today
Stacker, set out to compile a definitive list of every Disneyland attraction you can enjoy today and ranked them by their age. Using real-time data from Touring Plans, Disney archives, and historical news releases and reviews, our list starts with exciting recent park additions and stretches back to the oldest opening-day classics. This list focuses on the original Disneyland Park, so you will not see any rides from its neighboring California Adventure located just across the promenade. Read on to discover the oldest Disneyland rides you can still ride today.
Gallery Credit: Angela Brown
See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State
Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones
LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born
With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.
Gallery Credit: Jacob Osborn & Peter Richman
LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America
Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.
Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.
Gallery Credit: Keri Wiginton
LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore
The iconic (and at times silly) toys, technologies, and electronics have been usurped since their grand entrance, either by advances in technology or breakthroughs in common sense. See how many things on this list trigger childhood memories—and which ones were here and gone so fast you missed them entirely.
Gallery Credit: Stacey Marcus
LOOK: 50 Beloved Retail Chains That No Longer Exist
Stacker takes a look at 50 major retail chains that no longer exist and the reasons for their demise.
Gallery Credit: Madison Troyer
LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born
LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?
Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.
Gallery Credit: Katelyn Leboff
25 True Crime Locations: What Do They Look Like Today?
Below, find out where 25 of the most infamous crimes in history took place — and what the locations are used for today. (If they've been left standing.)
How Many in America: From Guns to Ghost Towns
Can you take a guess as to how many public schools are in the U.S.? Do you have any clue as to how many billionaires might be residing there? Read on to find out—and learn a thing or two about each of these selection’s cultural significance and legacy along the way.
Gallery Credit: RACHEL CAVANAUGH
The 40 Best Cover Songs by Rock Bands
LOOK: The Evolution of Slipknot's Terrifying Masks Throughout The Years
LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state
Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.
Gallery Credit: Meagan Drillinger
LOOK: Famous Historic Homes in Every State
READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest
Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.
Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.
Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang
The 100 Best Places to Live on the East Coast
The 100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest
LOOK: Here are the best small towns to live in across America
LOOK: Food history from the year you were born
From product innovations to major recalls, Stacker researched what happened in food history every year since 1921, according to news and government sources.
Gallery Credit: Joni Sweet
LOOK: 15 Discontinued McDonald's Menu Items
50 Most Popular Chain Restaurants in America
YouGov investigated the most popular dining brands in the country, and Stacker compiled the list to give readers context on the findings. Read on to look through America's vast and divergent variety of restaurants—maybe you'll even find a favorite or two.
Gallery Credit: Paul Feinstein
What Are the Signature Drinks From Every State?
LOOK: 50 Famous brands that no longer exist
Stacker compiled a list of more than four dozen famous consumer brands that no longer exist, consulting sites such as TheStreet, Good Housekeeping, and Eat This, Not That!, along with numerous throwback sites dedicated to consumer brands.
Gallery Credit: Liz Barrett Foster
KEEP READING: Here are the best places to retire in America
KEEP READING: See the richest person in every state
KEEP READING: What were the most popular baby names from the past 100 years?
KEEP READING: Here are the most popular baby names in every state
Using March 2019 data from the Social Security Administration, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular names in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., according to their 2018 SSA rankings. The top five boy names and top five girl names are listed for each state, as well as the number of babies born in 2018 with that name. Historically common names like Michael only made the top five in three states, while the less common name Harper ranks in the top five for 22 states.
Curious what names are trending in your home state? Keep reading to see if your name made the top five -- or to find inspiration for naming your baby.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
LOOK: The most popular biblical baby names
To determine the most popular biblical baby names, Stacker consulted the name origin site Behind the Name and the Social Security Administration's baby names database then ranked the top 50 names from Behind the Name's Biblical Names origins list of 564 names, based on how many babies had been given these names in 2019. Click through to find out which biblical names have stood the test of time.
Gallery Credit: ELLEN DEWITT
Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?
Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.
Gallery Credit: Stephanie Parker
LOOK: The most famous actress born the same year as you
Many of the actresses in this story not only made a name for themselves through their collection of iconic performances, but also through the selfless, philanthropic nature with which many of them approached their stardom. In an age of flipping the script on societal norms, many of these actresses are using their voices and platforms to be advocates for those who are otherwise unheard.
Gallery Credit: Ben Wittstein
LOOK: The Most Famous Actor Born Every Year
KEEP LOOKING: See what 50 company logos looked like then and now
CHECK IT OUT: See the 100 most popular brands in America
RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds
Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.
Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman
LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state
Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.
Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.
Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany
LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs
To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.
Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.
Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh
LOOK: 30 fascinating facts about sleep in the animal kingdom
Gallery Credit: Katherine Gallagher
LOOK: The least obedient dog breeds
KEEP LOOKING: See What 50 of America's Most 'Pupular' Dog Breeds Look Like as Puppies
More From 92.9 The Bull
