Our attorneys receive many questions from parents about the timing, placement, and securing of child seats under the Michigan Child Seat Act. I hope this helps. Our whole family is attached while traveling. That`s a no-brainer. When it comes to child protection, Michigan has laws designed to protect our children. It turned out that I don`t know what the laws were in 1979, driving me in the front seat was a big no-no if the laws in force today existed at the time. According to the Michigan legislature, “a child 4 years of age or older, but less than 8 years of age and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall, must be properly secured in a child restraint system in accordance with the instructions of the child restraint system manufacturer and vehicle manufacturer and the standards prescribed in 49 CFR 571.213″ (MCL 257.710e (3) (b)). This law also applies to children in the back seat. Drivers convicted of allowing a child to board a vehicle without proper safety devices or seat belts may face severe penalties. Below is an overview of Michigan`s car seat laws designed to protect infants and children while operating a motor vehicle. Children at least 8 years old or at least 4`9” can climb into the front seat of a car. Like all drivers and passengers, children who have become too old for a car seat or booster seat should always wear a seat belt.
Attach the chest clip to the child`s armpits to make sure the straps stay in the correct position. The fine for not wearing a seat belt properly is $25, according to MCL 257,907(2). An additional legal assessment of $40 brings the total amount of citations to $65. There is no point for this violation. Remember that a car seat must be properly installed to protect your child. If you need help installing a seat or determining which seat is best for your child, contact your local police or fire department. Michigan law does not provide guidelines on replacing car seats in the event of an accident. But a general rule of thumb is always to replace your car seat after a serious accident, as they may have invisible cracks in their plastic bodies and are not safe for later use. Children must wear seat belts after exceeding the height and weight restrictions for booster seats. For maximum protection, children should use the lap belt/shoulder harness instead of the lap belt, which is only found on the rear seats of some vehicles.
That changed in 2013. Now, the Michigan Vehicle Code gives judges the discretion to waive the fine or not. That`s right – the judge no longer has to impose a fine if a car seat is brought to court. If you need help installing car seats or determining if they comply with Michigan law, consult your local police or fire department for free assistance. Yes, children can legally climb into the front seat of a van as long as all necessary safety precautions are taken. This means that children must be restrained in the appropriate restraint system, whether it is a car seat, booster seat or seat belt. The CDC encourages parents to set an example for their children by practicing recommended safety protocols. Q: How do I find a recall list for my car or car seat? Michigan`s rules for child passenger safety can be a bit confusing.
Here are the basics. The debate in our house recently comes from my 9-year-old son. This has to do with his ability to drive as a passenger in the front seat. When I was a child, I started getting on the front seat at the age of 5. I haven`t told my son yet because his answer would be, “You did it when you were a kid!” Yes, I did it when I was a kid, but Michigan laws suggest otherwise. When it comes to the type of child seat required, Michigan`s law is rather vague. It simply states that the child must be properly restrained in a child restraint system in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the restraint system and the vehicle manufacturer. In other words, it is up to the driver to ensure that the child is properly secured in a car seat or booster seat recommended for the type of vehicle, as well as the age and weight of the child. The driver must also ensure that the car seat is properly installed and assembled. You should not be able to move a car seat more than an inch from side to side where the car seat is attached to the vehicle. The full text of the bill requires that a child who is “under 8 years of age and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall be properly restrained in a child restraint system in accordance with the instructions of the child restraint system manufacturer and vehicle manufacturer and [federal] standards… (MCL 257.710e(3)(b)) The Michigan Police Department has the right to arrest anyone who is not wearing proper seat belts for themselves or their underage passengers and issue tickets for breaking the law.
However, this is not the only consequence. If there is an accident and it turns out that a child drove in the wrong seat or restraint system, the driver may be determined to have been negligent due to the bodily injury to the child.
