Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Arizona

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who must wear a seat belt and who is responsible for children.
• You can choose the right restraint for young children.
• You can explain what Arizona's hands-free law allows and bans.
• You can explain the stricter phone rule for permit holders and new Class G drivers.

What you need to know and understand

• Front seat occupants must wear a properly fastened seat belt while the vehicle is moving.
• The driver must make sure every passenger under 16 is belted.
• For adults, the seat belt law is secondary: an officer needs another reason to stop you.
• Children under 5 must ride in a child restraint system.
• Children aged 5 to 7 who are 4 feet 9 inches or shorter must also use a child restraint system, such as a booster seat.
• Drivers may not hold or support a phone, or read, write or send texts while driving; hands-free use is allowed.
• Phone fines are $75 to $149 for a first violation and $400 for later ones.
• Permit holders and Class G drivers in their first six months may not use a wireless device at all while driving, except in an emergency.

Buckling up everyone

Arizona's law requires front seat occupants to be belted and makes the driver responsible for any passenger under 16, wherever they sit. Belting everyone, every trip, is the safe habit even where the law is less strict.

Child seats and boosters

A child under 5 must be secured in a child restraint system that meets federal safety standards. Children aged 5 to 7 who are no taller than 4 feet 9 inches need one too, which usually means a booster seat. Violations carry a $50 civil penalty, which can be waived if you show you have since fitted a proper seat.

Arizona's hands-free law

• Not allowed: holding or supporting a phone or other device with any part of your body while driving.
• Not allowed: writing, sending or reading texts, emails or internet content.
• Allowed for adult drivers: voice commands, an earpiece or headphone for calls, and hands-free navigation.
• Allowed: touching the device only to start or stop a function.
• Allowed: using the device when lawfully parked, or to report an emergency or illegal activity.

The stricter rule for new teen drivers

If you hold an instruction permit, or are in the first six months of a Class G license, you may not use a phone or other wireless device while driving, even hands-free. The exceptions are a real emergency where stopping is impossible or would add danger, and, for Class G drivers, audible turn-by-turn navigation set up before you move.

Common mistakes

• Letting younger passengers ride unbelted in the back seat. The driver is responsible for anyone under 16.
• Moving a child out of a booster too early. Check height as well as age.
• Holding the phone 'just to look' at a red light while the car is still in a traffic lane.
• Thinking hands-free calls are fine on a permit. They are not.

Test yourself: Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Arizona

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Arizona Permit Practice Test
• Arizona 30-Hour Supervised Driving Log and Driver Ed Options
• Arizona Class G License Restrictions