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169.685.4a

Statute ID: 19923

Statute Function ID: 39845

Traffic Regulations - Child passenger restraint systems

In Effect

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Details are only available for Penalty and Charging Statutes.

Statute Number:

169.685.4a

Enactment Date:

May 15, 2024

Effective Date:

Aug 1, 2024

Expiration Date:

Repealed?:

Summary Text:

Traffic Regulations - Child passenger restraint systems

Statute ID:

19923

Created:

Jul 8, 2024 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Updated:

Jul 8, 2024 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Last Update Action:

Added

Legal Analyst Comment:

New 2024 c104 art1 sect42; Charges will be in 4a and Penalty in recoded subd 5; Petty Misd.

Summary Text:

Traffic Regulations - Child passenger restraint systems

Link to MN Statute Text:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/169/685.html

Legislative Session:

2024 - Regular

Session Law Text?:

Statute text last updated on:

Jul 8, 2024

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), every driver in this state who transports a child or children under the age of 18 years in a motor vehicle that is in motion or a part of traffic and is required under federal motor vehicle safety standards to be equipped with a safety belt or lower anchors and tethers for children in a passenger seating position must have the child or children secured as follows:

(1) a child who is younger than two years of age must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system with an internal harness, until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system;

(2) a child who is at least two years of age and exceeds the rear-facing weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system must be properly restrained in a forward-facing child passenger restraint system with an internal harness, until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system;

(3) a child who is at least four years of age and exceeds the weight or height limit of the forward-facing child passenger restraint system must be properly restrained in a booster seat and secured with a safety belt;

(4) a child who is at least nine years of age or exceeds the weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system or the booster seat must be secured with a safety belt adjusted and fastened around the child's body to fit correctly. The safety belt fits correctly when the child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat, the child's knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat, the lap strap fits snugly across the child's thighs and lower hips and not the child's abdomen, and the shoulder strap snugly crosses the center of the child's chest and not the child's neck;

(5) a child who is younger than 13 years of age must be transported in the rear seat of a motor vehicle, when available, and must be properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat or secured with a safety belt; and

(6) a child who, because of age or weight, can be placed in more than one category under this paragraph must be placed in the more protective category, where clause (1) provides for the most protective and clause (5) provides for the least protective.

(b) The driver of a motor vehicle transporting a child who is younger than six years of age or weighs less than 60 pounds must transport the child in a rear seat if:

(1) the vehicle is equipped with a passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system;

(2) the air bag system is activated; and

(3) a rear seat is available.

(c) When the number of children in the motor vehicle under 13 years of age exceeds the number of age- or size-appropriate child passenger restraint systems and safety belts available in the motor vehicle, the unrestrained children must be seated in a rear seat, if rear seats are available.

(d) The weight and height limits of a child passenger restraint system under this subdivision are as established by the child passenger restraint system manufacturer.