<VV> TX and other belt laws and Corvairs

[J R Read]

IIRC, the Fed told the states that if they wanted to continue receiving 
highway funds the states would need to enact seat belt laws by a specific 
date (unknown to me) and within certain guidelines.  The seat belt laws were 
passed by the various states (at least initially and maybe still that way?). 
Some states passed their laws earlier than others and some states surpassed 
the guidelines of the fed by making stricter laws than were considered the 
minimum to continue receiving highway construction/repair funds.

This is what accounts for both similarities (fed guidelines) and differences 
(state legislation) in the seat belt laws and the timing of them among the 
various states.  The initial legislation came into being at about the middle 
of the Corvair lifespan - in most states, that would be the 1965 model year.

Later, JR

CCE CORSA CORVANANTICS SCG member
'61 Rampside Standard 4/110
'65 Monza Convertible 4/140
"Keep the Love Alive"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joel McGregor" <joelsplace at earthling.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 1:31 PM
Subject: <VV> TX seat belt laws


Warning:  don't read if you want to be ignorant of the seat belt laws.

Texas seat belt law:
§ 547.601. SAFETY BELTS REQUIRED.  A motor vehicle
required by Chapter 548 to be inspected shall be equipped with front
safety belts if safety belt anchorages were part of the
manufacturer's original equipment on the vehicle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

I guess that means they will pull up your carpet to check for anchors.

Inspection rules:

20.23 Seat Belts. Front seat belts are required on every motor vehicle in 
which front seat belt anchorages were a part of the manufacturer’s original 
equipment on the vehicle.
Anchorages defined: A seat belt anchorage consists of a threaded hole in 
suitable structure to receive the seat belt attachment fittings or a 
circular pluck which is welded to the vehicle chassis. Self-treading bolts 
are inserted into the pluck to form the complete seat belt anchorage 
assembly.


Joel McGregor