Street/strip legal racing harness/seat belts?

[daytona kid]

Are there any racing shoulder harness kits that are also street legal? Or is the only way to be street legal is to leave the stock belts in for streeting and then also have a 5pt shoulder belt set to be legal and safer for strip racing?

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

If your car is slower than 11.50,a stock seat belt is ok.Faster than 11.50 a rollbar and harness is required.
The harness has to ne replaced every 2 years,,,,,IMO that's STUPIT!!!

 

[daytona kid]

Thanks but I already knew that. I'm thinking there are no racing legal harness kits that are also street legal. Guess the only way to be legal on the street and strip is to have both stock and race belts.

 

[Roughbird72]

I'm not aware of any aftermarket harnesses that are DOT approved.
But i have been known to be wrong...

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Race belts are street legal!

 

[daytona kid]

Race belts are street legal!

I hope you're right but that is very hard to believe. I wonder how insurance companies feel about the subject. I'll call Hagerty and see what they have to say, since that's who I have.

 

[mopar 3 B]

I hope you're right but that is very hard to believe. I wonder how insurance companies feel about the subject. I'll call Hagerty and see what they have to say, since that's who I have.

Hagerty's only issue will more than likely be insuring a vechical that is raced.

I have seen a few police cars with racing harnesses and why would the dot care about better than OEM equipment?

 

[383man]

I have never been hassled on the street running my race harness belts. Why would these not be street legal as they are much safer then stock belts. Ron

 

[daytona kid]

Hagerty has told me there is no problem insuring my "vechical" that will be raced, they just don't insure it while it's between the light beams making a pass. They'll even insure it on the return road and pits. I bet DOT could find many reasons to not allow any other belts than stock, even if they're better. Like- how should they be installed? Tie-wraps? Who would decide if they are installed properly for each different car? Some guy at an inspection station?..

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Well Mr. insurance underwriter,I belong to several car clubs that sometimes has car shows at the race track.In order to make EXIBITION runs,they require these safety bars,window net and parachute.The car MUST pass this safety check in order to complete the exhibition...................

 

[daytona kid]

I have never been hassled on the street running my race harness belts. Why would these not be street legal as they are much safer then stock belts. Ron

Just can't imagine a law saying they could be legal. Would it say- As long as you have a roll-bar to mount them to? lol
Yea obviously race belts should be safer in most cases but there are many cases where they could not be. Stock shoulder belts are made to let you lay inward incase your roof is crushed in a flip thus possibly not breaking your neck, race harness and no roll bar = broken neck.

 

[Roughbird72]

Let me clarify my comment.
Race belts being street (DOT) legal would depend on if your state still has vehicle safety inspection.
I doubt any local law enforcement would have a problem with them.

 

[daytona kid]

Wow, I just called Hagerty and they said they didn't care which belts were in the car, stock belts or race harness, either is fine.. Now I'll call the DMV.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

NHRA would be the only one looking at the belts.

 

[Darter6]

I never even thought about the DMV not approving race belts. Could be. I remember a guy at a NHRA track tech line with a street car. Had expired race belts in it.They argued (the car owner) said "OK so if I put the 40 year old seat belts in you would let me race??(Tech guy said yes) But 2 year old race belts that expired 3 months ago are not safe ???''
My neighbor's whole family races, so I get 4 sets of 2 year old expired belts every time replacements are due.They don't bother with getting them re-certified.When I do a street car I use those belts.Now at the local (NHRA) track,they have never turn me down for using those belts.The tech guy there,when asked the question replied,,"The factory belts are no where as safe as the race belts,and there is nothing in the rule book that applies to a car that is running less than 11.50.It just says seat belts required. I would rather see those than factory belts".Now I never looked in the rule book to see how it is worded for sure..

 

[383man]

Just can't imagine a law saying they could be legal. Would it say- As long as you have a roll-bar to mount them to? lol
Yea obviously race belts should be safer in most cases but there are many cases where they could not be. Stock shoulder belts are made to let you lay inward incase your roof is crushed in a flip thus possibly not breaking your neck, race harness and no roll bar = broken neck.

Let me just say I am not trying to step on anybodys toes here or tick anyone off. I completely understand that just because I feel my race belts are installed safely dont mean everyone with race belts will install them right or safe enough. Of course I feel mine are much safer then stock belts but I dont know the laws of all the states either. I just know I have not ever had anyone give me any problems about having mine in my car and of course I have a rollbar also. I will say the last three times I have raced in NSS classes no track official have even looked at my seat belts. In fact the last two times I have raced the track inspector just looked in my window at me and said......what class are you running ? And that was my tech in. Ron

 

[daytona kid]

As most always I appreciate everyones input. Good healthy discussion, imo.
Got home too late today to call DMV or DOT, but will soon. I did find some info about belt laws online for each state. Here is something informative for my state>
324 Exemptions: State law provides that before a motor vehicle can be sold in the State, it must be equipped with a safety belt. However, motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1964 model year,.. . The law does not require that motor vehicles be retrofitted with safety belts

 

[Budnicks]

AS long as it has functional safety belts Johnny Law/DMV will be happy,
that is IF you use them anyway...

The sfi rating is above the DOT std. by leaps & bounds too,
IF your state has a problem with race harness,
you have far bigger problems than just the belts...LOL

 

[Tempest 455]

Why would anyone voluntarliy want to speak with the DMV?

I ran them for 20 years and never had a problem.

 

[Hanover Mopar]

Why would anyone voluntarliy want to speak with the DMV?

I ran them for 20 years and never had a problem.

Don't talk to MA DMV. Not a clue