S0345.01I

SB 121 - This act makes four changes to the seat belt law aimed at increasing passenger safety:

SEAT BELTS FOR CHILDREN: All passengers in a car, age 4 through age 15, must wear seat belts, whether they sit in the front or back seat. Current law only requires child passengers to be fastened when they sit in the front seat.

PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT: A driver violating the seat belt law may be stopped for that violation alone. This is commonly known as primary enforcement. Currently, nine states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have primary enforcement laws.

SEAT BELTS IN PICKUP TRUCKS: All drivers and front seat passengers of pickup trucks are required to wear seat belts. Currently, 40 states require seat belt use in pickups.

NO RIDING IN OPEN BED OF PICKUPS BY MINORS: No driver of a pickup truck may transport any person under the age of 18 in the bed of a pickup truck, except for one of the following: 1) an employee engaged in necessary duties; 2) a person transporting unprocessed agricultural products; 3) a person riding in the open bed during a parade or caravan; 4) a person who is secured in the bed of the truck; 5) a person participating in a "special event" (defined); and 6) a person who is providing assistance to, or ensuring the safety of, other persons engaged in recreational activity.

A person who operates a truck in violation of this provision is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor which is punishable by up to one year in jail.

This act is similar to SB 520 from 1996.

JAMES KLAHR