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.[1]
This table contains a brief summary of all seatbelt laws in Canada.[2] [3] 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[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Anyone in driver's seat or passenger seat[5] | $162 | 0 | 92.0% | ||
| British Columbia | Age 16+ in all seats | $167 | 0 | 96.9% | ||
| Manitoba | Age 16+ in all seats | $299.65 | 2 | 93.8% | ||
| New Brunswick | Age 16+ in all seats | $172.50 | 2 | 94.8% | ||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Age 16+ in all seats | $115 | 2 | 93.1% | ||
| Northwest Territories | Age 15+ in all seatsPassenger <15[6] | $150$200[7] | 2 | 84.9% | ||
| Nova Scotia | Age 16+ in all seats | $157.50 | 2 | 90.1% | ||
| Ontario | Age 16+ in all seats | $240 | 2 | 96.0% | ||
| Prince Edward Island | Age 16+ in all seats | $110 | 3 | 89.7% | ||
| Quebec | Age 16+ in all seats | $115–154 | 3 | 96.0% | ||
| Saskatchewan | Age 16+ in all seats | $165 | 3 | 96.8% | ||
| Yukon | Age 15+ in all seats | $75 | 4 | 78.1% |