A belt retraction cam lock having belt retraction locking means disposed between a pivotal top member and a bottom member to lockingly but releasably engage the belt to counterbalance the spring biased retraction spool of an emergency locking belt retractor, and having belt unlocking means also disposed between the top and bottom members for releasing the belt from the locking engagement of the belt retraction locking means when the belt is forcibly tensioned. The belt retraction locking means includes a latitudinally disposed ridge on the base member and a first cam latitudinally disposed on and pivotal about the axis of the pivotal top member, the belt being disposed therebetween, which define a belt locking position when the top member is pivoted to align the ridge and first cam, the belt being pinchingly arrested therebetween. The unlocking means includes a second cam over which the belt is slidably passable, which cam is adjacent and parallel to the first cam but offset about the pivotal axis of the top member. The second cam is operable to provide a moment of force about the pivotal axis of the top member when the belt is forcibly tensioned within the top and bottom members, the moment of force being of sufficient magnitude to overcome the belt retraction locking means and to forcibly rotate the top member from the belt locking position to a belt unlocking position, at which position the belt is free of any influence of the belt retraction cam lock.