Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAS T REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
4 01/24/2011 06/01/201 8 06/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
______ ____ ________ _
1022 - Seat Belt P olicy 1 POLICY 1022 SEAT BELT POLICY
1022.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The use of seat belts and other safety restraints significantly reduces the chance of death or
injury in case of a traffic collision. This policy establishes guidelines for seat belt and child saf ety
seat use to promote maximum operator and passenger safety, thus reducing the possibility of
death or injury as the result of a motor vehicle crash. This policy will apply to all employees
operating or riding in department vehicles (Vehicle Code § 27315 .5).
1022.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This section pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 41.3.3
This section pertains to the following Standard Operating Procedures: N/A
1022.2 WEARING OF SAFETY RESTRAINTS
All members shall wear properly adjusted safety restraints when operating or riding in a seat
equipped with restraints, in any vehicle owned, leased , or rented by this department while on - or
off-duty or riding in any privately owned vehicle s while on duty. The member driving such a
vehicle shal l ensure that all other occupants, including non-members , are also proper ly
restrained.
Exceptions to the requirement to wear safety restraints may be made only in exceptional
situations where, due to unusual circumstances, wearing a seat belt would endan ger the member
or the public. Members must be prepared to justify any deviation from this requirement.
1022.2.1 TRANSPORTING CHILDREN
Children under the age of 8 or who is under 4’9” in height should be transported in compliance
with California’s restra int system requirements (Vehicle Code § 27360 (a) and Vehicle Code §
27363(d) ).
A child may be transported by sworn personnel without the use of a child passenger restraint
system in an authorized emergency vehicle if a child passenger restraint system is unavailable
and the child is secured by a seat belt (Vehicle Code § 27363(b) and Vehicle Code § 165).
Employees should deactivate, if available, the passenger side airbag when appropriate, such as
when transporting a rear -facing infant or child in the fr ont seat.
1022.3 TRANSPORTING PRISONERS
Whenever possible, prisoners should be secured in the prisoner restraint system in the rear seat
of the patrol vehicle or, when a prisoner restraint system is not available, by seat belts. The
prisoner should be i n a seating position for which seat belts have been provided . The prisoner
restraint system is not intended to be a substitute for handcuffs or other appendage restraints.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAS T REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
4 01/24/2011 06/01/201 8 06/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
______ ____ ________ _
1022 - Seat Belt P olicy 2
1022.4 INOPERABLE SEAT BELTS
No person shall operate a department vehicle in whic h the seat belt in the driver’s position is
inoperable.
No person shall be transported in a seating position in which the seat belt is inoperable. No
person shall modify, remove, deactivate or otherwise tamper with the vehicle safety belts .
Employees who discover an inoperable restraint system shall report the defect to the appropriate
supervisor , down the unit, and complete a work order request for repair. Prompt action will be
taken to replace or repair the system.