Question: Could you tell me what the laws are on children and car seats? How long does a child have to ride in a car seat before he or she can use a regular seatbelt? Can a police officer stop you for not wearing a seat belt, or does he need another reason? Answer: All 50 states currently have a child safety seat law. Minnesota State Statute 169.685 subdivision 5 requires every motor vehicle operator transporting a child under 4 to use a child restraint system (child safety seat) that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Minnesota law also requires child safety seats to be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The seatbelts in our vehicles are designed for adults not children. To determine if a child over 4 is ready to use a regular seatbelt ask yourself the following questions: Does the child sit with his/her back against the back of the vehicle seat? Do the child’s knees bend comfortably around the vehicle seat edge? Are the child’s feet touching the floor? Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder (not on the face or neck)? Does the lap portion of the belt stay low on the hips? Is the child able to ride comfortably in this position for the whole trip? If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, the child needs a booster seat to safely use a seatbelt. Kids under 13 are also safer in the back seat. Minnesota State Statute 169.686 states that a citation for a seatbelt violation may not be issued unless the peace officer lawfully stopped or detained the driver of the motor vehicle for a moving violation other than a violation involving motor vehicle equipment. Minnesota motorists should be aware that the vast majority of those killed on Minnesota roadways never bothered to buckle up. In most cases, victims would have lived if they had buckled up. I will never forget a conversation I had with a father who received a death notification after his teenage son fell asleep at the wheel. His unbelted son drove off the roadway and was partially ejected and subsequently crushed by his own vehicle. The father told me that, prior to the crash he didn’t think it was the state’s business whether people used seatbelts or not. He then told me his son never wore a seatbelt because his dad never used a seatbelt. The part that I will never forget is what this father said next. Through very watery eyes he said he always considered himself successful as a provider for his family but, in looking back at his life after his son’s death, he now believes he failed at the most important job he ever had. He told me he would give anything if his son had buckled up because he would still be here. A tough pill for any parent to swallow. If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or traffic safety in Minnesota, send your questions to Trooper Tim Rust, Minnesota State Patrol, 3725 12th St. N., St. Cloud, MN 56303.
