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Connecticut
Department of Transportation
Child Safety Seats
Section 14-100a.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/pub/Chap246.htm#Sec14-100a.htm
Sec. 14-100a. Seat safety belts. Child restraint systems.
(a) No new passenger motor vehicle may be sold or registered in this state
unless equipped with at least two sets of seat safety belts for the front and
rear seats of the motor vehicle, which belts comply with the requirements of
subsection (b) of this section. The anchorage unit at the attachment point shall
be of such construction, design and strength as to support a loop load strength
of not less than four thousand pounds for each belt.
(b) No seat safety belt may be sold for use in connection with the operation of
a motor vehicle on any highway of this state unless it is so constructed and
installed as to have a loop strength through the complete attachment of not less
than four thousand pounds, and the buckle or closing device shall be of such
construction and design that after it has received the aforesaid loop belt load
it can be released with one hand with a pull of less than forty-five pounds.
(c) (1) The operator of and any front seat passenger in a motor vehicle with a
gross vehicle weight rating not exceeding ten thousand pounds or fire fighting
apparatus originally equipped with seat safety belts complying with the
provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 571.209, as
amended from time to time, shall wear such seat safety belt while the vehicle is
being operated on the highways of this state, except that a child under the age
of four years shall be restrained as provided in subsection (d) of this section.
Each operator of such vehicle shall secure or cause to be secured in a seat
safety belt any passenger four years of age or older and under sixteen years of
age.
(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to (A)
any person whose physical disability or impairment would prevent restraint in
such safety belt, provided such person obtains a written statement from a
licensed physician containing reasons for such person's inability to wear such
safety belt and including information concerning the nature and extent of such
condition. Such person shall carry the statement on his or her person or in the
motor vehicle at all times when it is being operated, or (B) an authorized
emergency vehicle, other than fire fighting apparatus, responding to an
emergency call or a motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier of the
United States postal service while performing his or her official duties or by a
person engaged in the delivery of newspapers.
(3) Failure to wear a seat safety belt shall not be considered as contributory
negligence nor shall such failure be admissible evidence in any civil action.
(4) On and after February 1, 1986, any person who violates the provisions of
this subsection shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined fifteen
dollars. Points may not be assessed against the operator's license of any person
convicted of such violation.
(d) Any person who transports a child under the age of four years, weighing less
than forty pounds, in a motor vehicle on the highways of this state shall
provide and require the child to use a child restraint system approved pursuant
to regulations adopted by the Department of Motor Vehicles in accordance with
the provisions of chapter 54. Any person who transports a child under the age of
four years, weighing forty or more pounds, in a motor vehicle on the highways of
this state shall either provide and require the child to use an approved child
restraint system or require the child to use a seat safety belt. As used in this
subsection, "motor vehicle" does not mean a bus having a tonnage rating of one
ton or more. Failure to use a child restraint system shall not be considered as
contributory negligence nor shall such failure be admissible evidence in any
civil action. Any person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall,
for a first violation, have committed an infraction; for a second violation, be
fined not more than one hundred ninety-nine dollars; and, for a third or
subsequent violation, be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. The commissioner shall
require any person who has committed a first or second violation of the
provisions of this subsection to attend a child car seat safety course offered
or approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The commissioner may, after
notice and an opportunity for a hearing, suspend for a period of not more than
two months the motor vehicle operator's license of any person who fails to
attend or successfully complete the course.
(e) The commissioner shall administer the provisions of this section.
2005 Update - Use Of Child Restraint Systems
This act (1) with one exception for children being transported
in student transportation vehicles, extends child restraint system use
requirements from children under age four weighing less than 40 pounds to
children under age seven or who weigh less than 60 pounds, regardless of age;
(2) requires any child under age one or weighing less than 20 pounds to be
transported in a rear-facing position in his child restraint system; and (3)
requires children restrained in booster seats to be anchored by a seat belt that
includes a shoulder belt. Children transported in student transportation
vehicles remain under the law’s prior requirements.
The act also requires that children be restrained in booster
seats only when the restraining seat belt includes a shoulder belt and meets
other applicable statutory requirements on belt strength and latch release. Use
of a lap belt only is prohibited.
Under the act, violators of the rear-facing positioning
requirement for infants and the booster seat anchorage requirements are subject
to the following penalties: an infraction for a first offense; a fine of up to $
199 for a second offense; and a fine of up to $ 2,000, imprisonment for up to
one year, or both (Class A misdemeanor) for a third or subsequent offense.
Mandatory attendance at an approved child car seat safety course is required
following a first or second violation of any of the child restraint
requirements.
(PA 05-58, effective October 1, 2005)
9/05
Maine
§2081. Use of safety seat belts
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Child safety seat" means a child safety seat that meets the standards
described in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. [2001, c. 585, §1
(new); §6 (aff).]
B. "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" means the standards described in 49
Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571, in effect on January 1, 1981, as
subsequently amended. [2001, c. 585, §1 (new); §6 (aff).]
C. "Federally approved child restraint system" means a child safety restraint
that is intended to be used as crash protection in vehicles and that meets the
requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. [2003, c. 380,
§1 (amd); §5 (aff).]
[2003, c. 380, §1 (amd); §5 (aff).]
2. Children under 40 pounds. When a child who weighs less than 40 pounds is
being transported in a motor vehicle that is required by the United States
Department of Transportation to be equipped with safety seat belts, the operator
must have the child properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions in a child safety seat. [2001, c. 585, §2 (amd); §6 (aff).]
3. Passengers less than 18 years of age. Except as provided in subsection
2, the following provisions apply to passengers less than 18 years of age riding
in a vehicle that is required by the United States Department of Transportation
to be equipped with seat belts.
A. The operator shall ensure that a child who weighs at least 40 pounds but less
than 80 pounds and who is less than 8 years of age is properly secured in a
federally approved child restraint system. Nonprofit, municipal or contracted
transportation service providers are exempt from this paragraph until February
1, 2005, except that the operator shall ensure that the child is properly
secured in a seat belt. [2003, c. 380, §2 (amd); §5 (aff).]
B. The operator shall ensure that a child who is less than 18 years of age and
at least 8 years of age or who is less than 18 years of age and more than 4
feet, 7 inches in height is properly secured in a seat belt. [2003, c. 380, §3
(amd); §5 (aff).]
C. The operator shall ensure that a child who is less than 12 years of age and
who weighs less than 100 pounds is properly secured in the rear seat of a
vehicle, if possible. [2001, c. 585, §3 (new); §6 (aff).]
9/05
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-7aa.htm
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 90: Section 7AA. Child passenger restraints; fine; violation as evidence
in civil action
No child under age five and no child weighing forty pounds or less shall ride as
a passenger in a motor vehicle on any way unless such child is properly fastened
and secured, according to the manufacturer's instructions, by a child passenger
restraint as defined in section one.
No child who is five years of age or older, but not older than twelve years of
age, shall ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle on any way unless such child
is wearing a safety belt which is properly adjusted and fastened according to
the manufacturer's instructions.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any such child who is: (1)
riding as a passenger in a school bus; (2) riding as a passenger in a motor
vehicle made before July first, nineteen hundred and sixty-six, that is not
equipped with safety belts; (3) physically unable to use either a conventional
child passenger restraint or a child restraint specifically designed for
children with special needs; provided, however, that such condition is duly
certified in writing by a physician who shall state the nature of the disability
as well as the reasons such restraints are inappropriate; provided, further,
that no such certifying physician shall be subject to liability in a civil
action for the issuance of or for the failure to issue such certificate. An
operator of a motor vehicle who violates the provisions of this section shall be
subject to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars; provided, however, that
said twenty-five dollar fine shall not apply to an operator of a motor vehicle
licensed as a taxi cab not equipped with a child passenger restraint device.
A violation of this section shall not be used as evidence of contributory
negligence in any civil action.
A person who receives a citation for a violation of any of the provisions of
this section may contest such citation pursuant to section three of chapter
ninety C. A violation of this section shall not be deemed to be a conviction of
a moving violation of the motor vehicle laws for the purpose of determining
surcharges on motor vehicle premiums pursuant to section one hundred and
thirteen B of chapter one hundred and seventy-five.
9/05
New
Hampshire
TITLE 21 Motor Vehicles
CHAPTER 265 Rules Of The Road
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXI/265/265-107-a.htm
265:107-a Child Passenger Restraints Required. –
I. No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any way while
carrying as a passenger a person less than 18 years of age unless such person is
wearing a seat or safety belt which is properly adjusted and fastened. If the
passenger is less than 6 years of age and is less than 55 inches in height, the
passenger shall be properly fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint
which is in accordance with the safety standards approved by the United States
Department of Transportation in 49 C.F.R. section 571.213. Except as provided in
paragraph II, no person shall drive a motor vehicle on any way while carrying as
a passenger a person less than 18 years of age unless the motor vehicle was
designed for and equipped with the passenger restraints specified above.
I-a. No person who is less than 18 years of age shall drive a
motor vehicle on any way unless such person is wearing a seat or safety belt
which is properly adjusted and fastened.
II. A person shall not be guilty of a violation of this
section if the motor vehicle the person is driving is regularly used to
transport passengers for hire, is a school bus weighing more than 10,000 pounds
or is a school bus weighing less than 10,000 pounds that was manufactured
without safety belts, or there is an individual education plan statement
contraindicating the use of restraints, is a vehicle manufactured before 1968,
is a motorcycle as defined in RSA 259:63 , is an antique motor car or motorcycle
as defined in RSA 259:4, or is being operated in a parade authorized by law or
ordinance, provided that the parade vehicle is travelling at a speed of no more
than 10 miles per hour.
III. Any driver who violates the provisions of this section
shall be guilty of a violation, and shall be subject to the following fines:
(a) $25 for a first offense.
(b) $50 for a second or subsequent offense.
IV. A violation of this section shall not be used as evidence
of contributory negligence in any civil action.
V. A conviction for violating the provisions of this section
shall not preclude prosecution of any other offense for which violation of this
section might constitute an element.
9/05
Rhode
Island
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE31/31-22/31-22-22.HTM
§ 31-22-22 Safety belt use – Child restraint. [Effective until July 1,
2005.]. – (a) Any person transporting a child under the age of seven (7), less
than fifty-four (54) inches in height and less than eighty (80) pounds in a
motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state,
shall transport the child in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle
properly restrained in a child restraint system approved by the United States
Department of Transportation under Federal Standard 213. If the child is under
seven (7) years old but at least fifty-four (54) inches in height, or at least
eighty (80) pounds the child shall be properly wearing a safety belt and/or
shoulder harness approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to
Federal Standard 208 in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle. For the
purpose of this section, applying to all parts of this section, "rear seating
position' means any seating positions located behind the driver and front seat
passenger. Under this subsection, a child must be properly restrained in the
front seat if:
(i) The vehicle is not equipped with a back seat; or
(ii) All rear seating positions are being utilized by other children.
(2) In no event shall failure to wear a child restraint system or safety belt
be considered as contributory or comparative negligence, nor the failure to wear
the child restraint system, seat belt and/or shoulder harness be admissible as
evidence in the trial of any civil action.
(b) Any operator of a motor vehicle transporting a child between the ages of
seven (7) through twelve (12) in any seating position within a motor vehicle
operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of the state shall ensure that
the passenger is properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness system,
as defined by Federal Standard 208.
(2) This subsection applies only to those motor vehicles required by federal
law to have safety belts.
(c) Any person deemed in violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be
issued a citation. If the cited person presents proof of purchase of a federally
approved child restraint system under Standard 213 to the issuing police
department within seven (7) days of issuance, the department shall void the
violation. If the individual fails to present proof of purchase, he or she shall
be required to appear for a hearing before the traffic tribunal, and shall be
fined seventy-five dollars ($75) for each offense, and it shall not be recorded
on the person's driving record within the rules and regulations governing
chapter 41.1 of this title.
(2) Any person violating subsection (b) of this section shall be fined
seventy-five dollars ($75) for each offense. The conviction shall not be
recorded on that person's driving record within the rules and regulations
governing chapter 41.1 of this title.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any
person transporting a child properly restrained in a federally approved child
restraint system under Federal Standard 213, but transporting the child in a
place other than a rear seating position, in violation of subsection (a) of this
section, shall be subject only to the fine contained in subdivision (c)(2) of
this section.
(e) All fines collected for violations of this section shall be payable to
the state of Rhode Island. Fifty percent (50%) of the proceeds shall be shared
with the municipality whose law enforcement department issued the citation for
the violations.
(f) Any operator of a motor vehicle transporting a person thirteen (13) years
of age and older in any seating position of a motor vehicle operated on the
roadways, streets or highways of this state shall ensure that the person be
properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness system, as defined by
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208.
(2) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to those motor
vehicles required by federal law to have safety belts.
(g) Any person who is an operator of a motor vehicle shall be properly
wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness system as defined by Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 208 while the vehicle is in operation on any of the
roadways, streets, or highways of this state.
(2) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to those motor
vehicles required by federal law to have safety belts.
(h) In no event shall failure to be properly restrained by a child restraint
system or safety belt be considered as negligence, nor the failure to be
properly restrained by the child restraint system or safety belt be admissible
as evidence in the trial of any civil action.
(i) The provisions of subsections (b), (f) and (g) of this section shall not
apply to a driver or passenger of:
(1) A passenger motor vehicle manufactured before July 1, 1966;
(2) A passenger motor vehicle in which the driver or passenger possesses a
written verification from a licensed physician that the driver or passenger is
unable to wear a safety seat belt system for physical or medical reasons. The
verification time period shall not exceed twelve (12) months at which time a new
verification may be issued;
(3) A passenger motor vehicle which is not required to be equipped with a
safety seat belt system under federal laws; or
(4) A passenger motor vehicle operated by a letter carrier of the United
States Postal Service while performing the duties of a letter carrier.
(j) A program of public information and education designed to educate the
motoring public to the benefits of wearing safety belt systems, shall be
developed by the department of transportation's governor's office on highway
safety. The department of transportation's office on highway safety, in
cooperation with the department of health, shall study the effectiveness of the
implementation of this section and shall submit to the general assembly a report
containing its findings by July 1, 1999.
(k) Violations of subsections (f) and (g) of this section shall be considered
secondary offenses and no motor vehicle may be stopped by any state or municipal
law enforcement agency for failure of an operator or passenger to wear a safety
belt system or for any violation of subsections (f) or (g) of this section;
provided, that a motor vehicle may be stopped for failure to comply with the
child restraint system as described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(l) Any person violating subsection (f) or (g) of this section shall be fined
seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Any conviction for violating subsection (f) or
(g) of this section shall not be recorded on that person's driving record within
the rules and regulations governing chapter 41.1 of this title.
9/05
Vermont
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=23&Chapter=013&Section=01258
§ 1258. Child restraint systems; persons under age 16
(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, other than a type I school bus, in
this state upon a public highway unless every occupant under age 16 is properly
restrained in a federally-approved child passenger restraining system as defined
in 49 C.F.R. § 571.213 (1993) or a federally-approved safety belt, as follows:
(1) all children under the age of one, and all children weighing less than 20
pounds, regardless of age, shall be restrained in a rear-facing position,
properly secured in a federally-approved child passenger restraining system,
which shall not be installed in front of an active air bag;
(2) a child weighing more than 20 pounds, and who is one year of age or older
and under the age of eight years, shall be restrained in a child passenger
restraining system; and
(3) a child eight through 15 years of age shall be restrained in a safety belt
system or a child passenger restraining system.
(b) A person shall not be adjudicated in violation of this section if:
(1) the motor vehicle is regularly used to transport passengers for hire except
a motor vehicle owned or operated by a day care facility; or
(2) the motor vehicle was manufactured without safety belts.
(c) The penalty for violation of this section shall be as follows:
(1) $25.00 for a first violation;
(2) $50.00 for a second violation;
(3) $100.00 for third and subsequent violations. (Added 1983, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 2; amended 1987, No. 49; 1989, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.); 1993, No. 20, § 1; 1993,
No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2003, No. 28, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.)
9/05
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