Except for New Hampshire, all states and the District of Columbia require adult front-seat occupants of motor vehicles to use seat belts. Adult rear-seat passengers are also covered by the laws in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Children are covered by separate laws.

State seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to stop a motor vehicle and to issue a ticket or citation to a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt without any other traffic offense having occurred. Secondary seat belt laws only allow law enforcement officers to issue a ticket or citation for not wearing a seat belt when there has been another traffic offense by an occupant of the vehicle for which the occupant may be issued a ticket or citation.

In Virginia, seat belt use is mandated by law for drivers and front-seat passengers with a primary enforcement approach. This means that law enforcement officers in Virginia have the authority to stop a vehicle and issue a citation solely for a seat belt violation without needing to observe any other traffic offense. The law also requires all passengers under the age of 18 to wear a seat belt or be secured in a child safety seat, regardless of their seating position in the vehicle. For adult rear-seat passengers, Virginia's seat belt laws are secondary, which means that officers can only issue a citation for not wearing a seat belt if the vehicle has been stopped for another reason. It's important to note that these laws are subject to change, and it is advisable to consult the latest Virginia statutes or an attorney for the most current information.