There are exceptions to the seat belt law:  1. Vehicles built prior to 1965 which did not have safety belts as original equipment and are not classified as a custom collector vehicle. 2. Vehicle operators acting in the course of employment delivering mail or newspapers from inside the vehicle to roadside boxes. 3. Passengers in a school bus unless the bus is required to be equipped with safety belts. 4. Passengers in an emergency vehicle. 5. People or a class of people exempt by the Commissioner of Public Safety  as defined by regulations. A driver may be fined up to $50 and may receive two demerit points on their operator’s  license for failure to restrain passengers under age 16. Adult violations are subject to a  $15 fine.  A provision of the law allows the court to waive the $15 fine for persons convicted under  this law if that person donates $15 to the EMS organization. Convicted drivers pay the  fine to an EMS organization listed in the current version of the Alaska Emergency Medical  Services Directory. Drivers send a copy of the citation along with the receipt from  the EMS organization to the court.  CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS THE NUMBER 1 CURE FOR THE GREATEST  KILLER OF CHILDREN After the critical early weeks of life for a newborn baby   automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for American  children with tens of thousands more children being seriously  injured. Small children  unless they are properly restrained   become flying missiles until a stationary object stops their  forward progress. It is a tragic fact that most deaths and injuries  resulting from automobile crashes could have been avoided if  parents had taken the time to properly buckle up their children  in an approved child restraint system.  There are many types of child restraint systems available at  department stores  children’s shops  and even through some  mail order catalogs. Shop around for the car seat that will best suit your child and your car  before your baby is born. Insure your baby’s first ride home from the hospital is a SAFE ride!  Alaska Child Passenger Safety Coalition is comprised of representatives from numerous  public and private agencies throughout the state that share a common goal of protecting  children traveling on the roadways of Alaska. Members include healthcare professionals   firefighters  paramedics  law enforcement officers  injury prevention professionals  health  volunteers. Visit www.carseatsak.org for more information.  REMEMBER: Once your children are secured and safe… don’t YOU forget YOUR safety belt! 