LEWISTON - For Idaho drivers, it's a secondary offense and a $10 ticket.

But for everyone, including two Idaho sheriff’s deputies, it can mean the difference between life and death.

Seat belts are not required in emergency vehicles in Idaho, including ambulances, police cars, and sheriff's office patrol cars.

But department policy always dictates "safety first."

"We try and make sure our guys follow the same laws as everybody else," said N.P. Co. Sheriff's Office Corporal Pat Santos.

"We've drawn the line that when circumstances permit you to have your belt, then you have it on for safety purposes," said Lt. Bill Madison.

The exemption, which also covers mail carriers and tractor drivers, was put into Idaho Code in 1986.

ITD Safety Manager Mary Hunter said since then, departments across the state have adopted their own policies when it comes to seat belt use.

Madison said they tell their deputies to buckle up, but there are times when they need to un-"click-it" while on the road.

"We've had suspects on foot in the area, where you take your belt off, so you can get out of the car quickly if you happen to see this individual or have to take quick action on it," said Madison.

"When I make a traffic stop, my seat belt comes off," said Santos. "The simple fact is if the gentleman gets out of the car before me, I don't want to be fumbling with a seat belt. I want to get out of my car as fast as I can, because you never know why a subject wants to get out of the car."

An investigation into the fatal crash of an Adams County deputy two weeks ago showed the deputy was not responding to an emergency when he was killed in a head-on collision on U.S. 95. Neither he, nor a Lincoln County Sheriff's deputy who died over the weekend, were wearing their seat belts when they crashed.

Hunter said some at ITD expressed interest in getting rid of the exemption, saying they're always looking for ways to strengthen Idaho's seat belt law, adding the likelihood of death from a crash is cut in half.

Nez Perce County likes the law as is.

"Wouldn't want to take those exemptions away for the times when they do have to take their belt of a little earlier or operate without it under certain circumstances," said Madison.