FROM THE ARCHIVE: 1st day of driving when wearing seat belts became CA law in 1986

It only became required to buckle up 35 years ago

ByWillie MonroeKGO logo
Friday, January 1, 2021
When wearing seat belts became CA law: Jan. 1, 1986

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Do you know people were once not required to wear seat belts---in California? Well, drivers and passengers in the Bay Area had to start buckling up when it became a law in California on January 1, 1986.

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The legislation was authored by then Assembly Speaker and future San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) and signed into law by Gov. George Deukmejian in October 1985.

In this edition of "From The Archive," here's a look back on the day when wearing seat belts became state law reported by Willie Monroe on January 1, 1986.

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