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If you drive a truck or an SUV and don't buckle up, keep reading -- the rules change soon.

And if you're annoyed every time you see a seat belt checkpoint, take heart -- you can soon kiss them goodbye.

Both changes come July 1, when Indiana 's new seat belt law takes effect. Here's what you need to know about it:

·  If you're in a moving vehicle that comes equipped with seat belts, you will have to have your belt fastened. It won't matter whether you're in the front seat or the back seat, or whether you're in a truck or a car.

·  There will be exceptions. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a seat belt, for instance, you'll be exempted, so long as you have written documentation from your doctor.

You'll also get a pass if you're driving a commercial or postal vehicle that make frequent delivery stops, or if you're driving a motor route to deliver newspapers.

And if you're a designated driver examiner conducting an exam, no belt will be required. The same will hold true if you're in a farm truck that's being used on -- where else? -- a farm, or if you're in the living quarters of an RV.

And of course, if your youngster is in a child restraint system, they'll be covered.

As exceptions go, these are among the highlights. Now, here are a couple of more provisions you should keep in mind:

·  Police won't be able to set up seat belt checkpoints.

·  They will be allowed to stop you to ensure you're buckled up properly, although they won't be able to search you, your passengers or the contents of your vehicle just because they've spotted a seat belt violation.

Some expert perspectives

What do experts think about the new law? Ask Sgt. Trent Smith, a public information officer for the Indiana State Police, and he'll tell you it's a good thing because seat belts save lives.

And he's not concerned about the ban on seat belt checkpoints, because he says police still will be able to target violators.

For instance, instead of placing 10 officers at a checkpoint, he says police will be able to send those same officers into a specific area -- say within a 10-block radius -- to look for violators.

Sure, he concedes, some people will say the government shouldn't tell them whether they must wear a seat belt, but he notes that it already tells them how fast they can drive.

"It's for public safety," he says. "It's in the best interest of the public."

Greg Seiter agrees. He's the public affairs manager for AAA Hoosier Motor Club, which lobbied for the new law.

Under the current law, he says, almost one in four Indiana vehicles is exempted from seat belt restrictions. That's because there's an exception for trucks, he says, and because SUVs and minivans can get truck plates.

"It cannot be debated," he says, "that seat belts save lives."