Updates to Minnesota’s Child Passenger Safety Law are effective beginning Aug. 1.
Every driver who transports children under 18 will be required to have them restrained in a car seat or with a seat belt based on the new guidelines.
Rather than relying on manufacturers' height and weight instructions, the updated law specifies ages for rear- and forward-facing car seats, booster seats and seat belts in addition to height and weight limits. If a child falls into more than one category, then they must be placed in the safer restraint.
From birth to at least 2, children must be in a rear-facing car seat. After a child turns 2 and has outgrown the rear-facing seat by height or weight, they should use a forward-facing car seat.
Kids 4 or older who have outgrown the forward-facing seat should ride in a booster seat. At 9 years old, after having outgrown the booster seat, the child can ride with just a seat belt — if they can pass the five-step test.
Any child under 13 must sit in the back seat if possible.
A news release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety stated the new law is based on best practices and keeps kids from prematurely graduating to the next level of restraint.
“We all want our children to be as safe as possible while we’re driving, and that means making sure they are in the proper child restraint,” said Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson in the release. “The new law lays out best practices and will help parents make the best decision to protect their child.”