1. Any passenger 18 years of age or older who rides in the front or back seat of any taxicab on any highway, road or street in this State shall wear a safety belt if one is available for the seating position of the passenger, except that this subsection does not apply:

(a) To a passenger who possesses a written statement by a physician or an advanced practice registered nurse certifying that the passenger is unable to wear a safety belt for medical or physical reasons; or

(b) If the taxicab was not required by federal law at the time of initial sale to be equipped with safety belts.

2. A citation must be issued to any passenger who violates the provisions of subsection 1. A citation may be issued pursuant to this subsection only if the violation is discovered when the vehicle is halted or its driver arrested for another alleged violation or offense. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection 1 shall be punished by a fine of not more than $25 or by a sentence to perform a certain number of hours of community service.

3. A violation of subsection 1:

(a) Is not a moving traffic violation under NRS 483.473.

(b) May be considered as negligence or as causation in any civil action or as negligent or reckless driving under NRS 484B.653.

(c) May be considered as misuse or abuse of a product or as causation in any action brought to recover damages for injury to a person or property resulting from the manufacture, distribution, sale or use of a product.

4. An owner or operator of a taxicab shall post a sign within each of his or her taxicabs advising passengers that they must wear safety belts while being transported by the taxicab. Such a sign must be placed within the taxicab so as to be visible to and easily readable by passengers, except that this subsection does not apply if the taxicab was not required by federal law at the time of initial sale to be equipped with safety belts.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 505; A 2015, 1375; 2019, 511) — (Substituted in revision for NRS 484.6415)