title: Seat belt legislation in Canada
text: # Seat belt legislation in Canada
  
  Seat belt legislation in Canada is left to the provinces. All provinces in Canada have primary enforcement seat belt laws, which allow a police officer to stop and ticket a driver if they observed a violation. Ontario was the first province to pass a law which required vehicle occupants to wear seat belts, a law that came into effect on January 1, 1976.
  
  ## The laws by province
  
  This table contains a brief summary of all seatbelt laws in Canada. This list includes only seatbelt laws, which often do not themselves apply to children; however, all provinces and territories have separate child restraint laws. A subsequent offense may be higher.
  
  | Province/Territory | Date of inception | Who is covered | Base fine before fees | Demerit points assigned | Usage |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Alberta | July 1, 1987 | Anyone in driver's seat or passenger seat | $162 | 0 | 92.0% |
  | British Columbia | October 1, 1977 | Age 16+ in all seats | $167 | 0 | 96.9% |
  | Manitoba | April 1, 1984 | Age 16+ in all seats | $299.65 | 2 | 93.8% |
  | New Brunswick | November 1, 1983 | Age 16+ in all seats | $172.50 | 2 | 94.8% |
  | Newfoundland and Labrador | July 1, 1982 | Age 16+ in all seats | $115 | 2 | 93.1% |
  | Northwest Territories | July 1, 1988 | Age 15+ in all seats Passenger <15 | $150 $200 | 2 | 84.9% |
  | Nova Scotia | January 1, 1985 | Age 16+ in all seats | $157.50 | 2 | 90.1% |
  | Ontario | January 1, 1976 | Age 16+ in all seats | $240 | 2 | 96.0% |
  | Prince Edward Island | July 1, 1987 | Age 16+ in all seats | $110 | 3 | 89.7% |
  | Quebec | August 15, 1976 | Age 16+ in all seats | $115–154 | 3 | 96.0% |
  | Saskatchewan | July 1, 1977 | Age 16+ in all seats | $165 | 3 | 96.8% |
  | Yukon | July 1, 1991 | Age 15+ in all seats | $75 | 4 | 78.1% |
  