Requiring certain children to be secured in child restraint devices when traveling in motor vehicles

This bill requires certain children to be secured in child restraint devices, including child restraint systems, safety belts, and safety harnesses, when traveling in motor vehicles. Current law requires a child under one year of age and weighing less than 20 pounds who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, to be secured during transit in a rear-facing child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The bill extends this requirement to a child under two years of age regardless of the child’s weight. Current law also requires a child under six years of age, who is not subject to the above requirement, and who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, to be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The bill extends this requirement to children between two and eight years of age. Accordingly, the bill requires a child at least eight years of age (instead of six) but under 18 years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, to be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or by an approved safety belt or safety harness. The bill strikes a provision that exempts children occupying the back seat of a motor vehicle from having to be secured during transit by a child restraint system, safety belt, or safety harness if no safety belt is available because all safety belts are being used by other occupants or cannot be used due to the use of a child restraint system in the seating position for which a belt is provided.446 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $135.555.