'It was just one time': A Virginia family's loss sparks new seatbelt law

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — A new law going into effect in Virginia is aimed at keeping you safer on the road by bringing awareness to something we may often overlook.

“It was just that one time. He just jumped in the back seat. A lot of people don’t think back seats are as important,” said Christy King, founder of the Christopher King Foundation.

What seemed like a trivial decision, cost a Virginia teen his life.

King’s son Christopher was hanging out with friends just two weeks after his high school graduation in 2020. However, when he got in the back of his friend’s convertible, the night of fun, turned into a nightmare. King said he was in the backseat and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

“He ended up hitting the ditch and that’s when he was thrown from the car to his death. The car actually came up in the air a little bit and landed on its side,” King explained.

After this tragedy, King wanted to make sure no other family had to go through the loss she did. That’s why she pushed for the “Christopher King Seat Belt Bill,” which now requires passengers to wear a seatbelt in the backseat.

Previously, only passengers in the front were required to use a seatbelt.

“Many, many people are just not taking the seatbelt law seriously, and it’s so important,” said State Police spokesperson Robin Lawson.

Lawson said during Memorial Day weekend in 2024, police wrote over 500 tickets for seatbelt violations. She hopes this new law will raise awareness and save lives.

Every day, each and every one of us get in a car, whether we’re riding or driving, and it is one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis, and buckling up protects us,” explained Lawson.

The law goes into effect July 1. It is still considered a secondary violation, which means a trooper can’t pull someone over just because they see they aren’t wearing a seatbelt. However, if a person is pulled over for another reason, and they aren’t wearing a seatbelt, they will get a ticket.