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Massachusetts Question 5, Mandatory Seat Belt Usage Referendum (1986)
| Massachusetts Question 5 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Vehicle and driver regulations |
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| Status |
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| Type Veto referendum |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 5 was on the ballot as a veto referendum in Massachusetts on November 4, 1986. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported requiring drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened seat belts, with certain exceptions. |
A “no” vote opposed requiring drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened seat belts, with certain exceptions. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 5 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 769,806 | 46.31% | ||
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892,580 | 53.69% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 5 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives on October 11, 1985, by a vote of 11 - 62, and which was approved by the Senate on October 17, 1985? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ |
The law requires all drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belts while traveling in motor vehicles on public ways. It does not apply to: children under five years old who are required by another law to wear safety belts or be restrained in safety car seats; passengers in vehicles where all safety belts are being used by others; passengers in buses; persons riding in vehicles built before July 1,1966, or in which safety belts were not installed as original equipment; or persons who are certified by a physician to be physically unable to use safety belts. The law also does not apply to police officers, rural mail carriers, or drivers or passengers of other vehicles that stop frequently and travel at speeds not exceeding 15 miles per hour between stops. Drivers or passengers sixteen years or older who do not wear safety belts are subject to a $15.00 fine. The driver of a vehicle is also subject to a $15.00 fine for each passenger under sixteen who does not wear a safety belt. This law, however, can be enforced only if the driver is stopped for a violation of another motor vehicle law. Safety belt violations will not result in surcharges on motor vehicle insurance premiums. The law also requires that when the Commissioner of Insurance sets motor vehicle insurance rates, the rates must reflect any savings attributable to increased use of safety belts. The law also requires that all motor vehicles manufactured after September 1,1989, that are sold or registered in Massachusetts be equipped with crash protection devices, as specified by federal regulations. Any manufacturer who sells or delivers motor vehicles that are not equipped with such safety devices will be subject to a fine of not more than $100 for each sale or delivery. This law is not intended to eliminate the federal requirements for passive crash protection devices in motor vehicles. The law also provides that a non-binding question, unlike this binding referendum, shall be placed on the 1986 general election ballot asking whether the voters approve of the law. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. This type of ballot measure is also called statute referendum, popular referendum, people's veto, or citizen's veto. There are 23 states that allow citizens to initiate veto referendums.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for a veto referendum election is equal to 1.5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. To suspend the law prior to the election, the number of signatures required is equal to 2% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county. Signatures for a veto referendum petition must be submitted no more than 90 days after the governor signs the targeted bill or it is enacted into law.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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