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re: Question about Louisiana law requiring children aged under 13 to ride in back seat

Posted on 2/2/20 at 10:44 am to
Posted by fallguy_1978
Best States #50
Member since Feb 2018
53837 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 10:44 am to
quote:

Born in the '70s pretty sure i was allowed to turn the steering wheel while on paw paws lap. No power steering.

My sister was sitting on the arm rest when we were kids and fell out of a moving vehicle. Luckily we were still in the neighborhood. Broke her collarbone though.
Posted by TrueBaldPate
BR
Member since Dec 2019
982 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 10:45 am to
I can remember riding in back window above the back seats of a car. Also riding in back of El Camino with it full of water to the store.
Posted by Old Character
Member since Jan 2018
1626 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 11:53 am to
If the law says they must ride in back seat then there should be a law saying there’s always a back seat. No more room in back seat? Gotta leave their arse at home. Laws the law. No exceptions.
Posted by diat150
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
48185 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 12:06 pm to
quote:

What if you have 4 chillren all under 13 in your 1986 Cutlass Supreme?


In that case you don’t even need seatbelts. You can even do like I used to do when I was a kid and lay on the back dash
Posted by Kadjin
edge of the basin
Member since Oct 2013
1304 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 12:20 pm to
quote:


What if you have 4 chillren all under 13 in your 1986 Cutlass Supreme?


Not at all defending the law, but they can all fit back there, no problem
Posted by junkfunky
Member since Jan 2011
36665 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 12:48 pm to
Nothing changed except the age requirement. If there is no back seat they are legally allowed to sit in the front.
Posted by Redbone
between St. Amant and Port Vincent
Member since Sep 2012
20738 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 1:26 pm to
quote:

single cab pickup? Or an El Camino?
The air bag is the danger to small ones. There should be a switch to turn off air bag if so equipped.
quote:

What about motorcycles?
You are being stupid. Don't be stupid.
Posted by Teddy Ruxpin
Member since Oct 2006
40997 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 1:27 pm to
Not to mention it's easier for law enforcement to use age instead of height and weight out in the field.
This post was edited on 2/2/20 at 1:28 pm
Posted by LSUGrrrl
Frisco, TX
Member since Jul 2007
46437 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:16 pm to
Don’t most cars automatically turn off the passenger airbag when a certain weight isn’t detected? I can’t remember the last vehicle I had that didn’t have the feature.
Posted by Joshjrn
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2008
33424 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:47 pm to
LA R.S. §295. Child passenger restraint system

A. Except as provided in Subsections C, D, and E of this Section, every driver in this state who transports a child or children under the age of eighteen years in a motor vehicle that is in motion and is required by federal safety standards to be equipped with a safety belt system or lower anchors and tethers for children in a passenger seating position shall have the child properly restrained according to the vehicle and child safety seat manufacturer's instructions, as follows:

(1) A child who is younger than the age of two years shall be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system that complies with all applicable federal regulations until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer.

(2) A child who is at least two years of age or older and has reached the rear-facing weight or height limits of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer, shall be restrained in a forward-facing child restraint system with an internal harness until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system set by the manufacturer.

(3) A child who is at least four years of age and has outgrown the forward-facing weight or height limits of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer shall be restrained in a belt-positioning child booster seat, secured with a vehicle lap-shoulder seat belt, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

(4) A child who is at least nine years of age or has outgrown the height or weight limits of a child restraint system or belt-positioning child booster seat as set by the manufacturer shall be restrained with the motor vehicle's adult safety belt adjusted and fastened around the child's body to fit correctly. The adult safety belt fits correctly when the child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat, the child's knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat, the belt fits snugly across the child's thighs and lower hips, and not the child's abdomen, and when the shoulder strap snugly crosses the center of the child's chest and not the child's neck.

(5) A child who is younger than thirteen years of age shall be transported in the rear seat of a motor vehicle, when available, in a properly used child restraint system, belt-positioning child booster seat, or adult safety belt that complies with all applicable federal regulations.

(6) A child who because of age or weight can be placed in more than one category shall be placed in the more protective category.

B.(1) The term "motor vehicle" as used in this Section shall not mean the following: bicycle; farm tractor; motorcycle or motor-driven cycle; truck of manufacturer's rating carrying capacity of over two thousand pounds; ambulance or other emergency vehicle; school bus as defined in R.S. 32:1(62)(a) and (b); church bus, private bus, or recreational vehicle which has a passenger capacity of over ten persons; or commercial truck, van, or taxi.

(2) The term "child restraint system" as used in this Section shall mean a lap belt, a shoulder harness, or an age- or size-appropriate child safety seat as required by this Section.

(3) The term "child booster seat" as used in this Section means a child passenger restraint system that meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.213 and is designed to elevate a child to properly sit in a federally approved safety belt system.

C. When the vehicle is equipped with a passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system and the air bag system is activated, the driver of a vehicle transporting a child who is younger than six years of age or weighs less than sixty pounds shall transport the child in the rear seat positions in the vehicle, if rear seats are available.

D. When the number of children under the age of thirteen in the motor vehicle exceeds the number of age- or size-appropriate passenger restraint systems and seat belts available in the motor vehicle, the unrestrained children shall be seated in a rear seat, if rear seats are available.

E. The provisions of this Section shall not apply when one of the following conditions exists:

(1) The motor vehicle is being used as an ambulance or other emergency vehicle.

(2) An emergency exists which threatens the life of any person operating a motor vehicle to whom this Section otherwise would apply or the life of any child who otherwise would be required to be restrained under this Section.

(3) Any child who would otherwise be required to be restrained under this Section who is physically unable because of medical reasons to use a child passenger safety system or safety belt.

F. In no event shall failure to wear a child passenger safety seat system be considered as comparative negligence, nor shall such failure be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action with regard to negligence, nor shall such failure be considered a moving violation.

G. Any operator of a motor vehicle stopped for a violation of this Section and against whom enforcement action has been taken shall not be guilty of a subsequent violation of this Section until after twenty-four hours have elapsed from the date and time of the violation as indicated on the traffic ticket.

H. A violation of this Section involving failure to secure a child in any type of child restraint system shall be a primary offense. However, failure to secure a child in the age- or size-appropriate restraint, as specified by Subsection A of this Section, shall be a secondary offense and a driver may be cited only if stopped for a moving violation.

I.(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary and except as provided by Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, any person who violates this Section shall upon conviction be fined one hundred dollars for a first offense, not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than five hundred dollars for a second offense, and five hundred dollars plus all costs of court for a third or subsequent offense.

(2) Any person who violates this Section but whose violation is limited to failure to utilize an age- or size-appropriate child restraint system to secure an otherwise restrained child shall not be fined more than one hundred dollars including fees and court costs.

J. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall initiate an educational program designed to encourage compliance with the child passenger restraint system requirements of this Section.

Acts 1984, No. 156, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1037, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2003, No. 1238, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 300, §1, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 224, §1, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2019, No. 51, §1.
Posted by yellowfin
Coastal Bar
Member since May 2006
99042 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:47 pm to
quote:


Not to mention it's easier for law enforcement to use age instead of height and weight out in the field.



How’s that?
Posted by Sun God
Member since Jul 2009
52893 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:50 pm to
quote:

Im trying to think of when I was allowed to ride in the front seat. It was right around then. Likely when I was 12 at the earliest. Plenty of parents out there today that don’t create enough boundaries or exert there authority as a parent over a kid and would rather be cool and be their friend.

I bet your parents made you wear a helmet 24/7
Posted by fallguy_1978
Best States #50
Member since Feb 2018
53837 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:52 pm to
quote:

How’s that?

It's not like they have Id.

OK kids, you are both 13.
Posted by Evil Little Thing
Member since Jul 2013
11638 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:52 pm to
It has something to do with their skeletons not being as mature/developed at younger ages, even if they’re tall & heavy enough. If they do ride in front, make sure the seat is all the way back to put them farther away from the airbag.
Posted by noonan
Nassau Bay, TX
Member since Aug 2005
37016 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:57 pm to
quote:


It's not like they have Id.


When I first had my son I wondered how I would even prove he was mine if something happened. When he was two I would tell him to ask for help instead of crying. At the park one day he started screaming at me for help, thankfully no one was around to question it.

He looks just like me, so I doubt I'd even get any questions, but just something I've wondered.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
76175 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:59 pm to
quote:

My sister was sitting on the arm rest when we were kids and fell out of a moving vehicle.
I’m concerned with her healing process.

Pics of her? TIA
Posted by Macintosh
Lane State University
Member since Sep 2011
56925 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 3:59 pm to
quote:

It's about nearly the dumbest law.

unnnecessary law just to take more money from the people of Louisiana
Posted by yellowfin
Coastal Bar
Member since May 2006
99042 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 4:10 pm to
Yeah seems like it would be easier to measure and weigh them than age them
Posted by LSUsmartass
Scompton
Member since Sep 2004
82755 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 4:43 pm to
quote:

You are being stupid. Don't be stupid.

How so? I know an elementary school teacher who did carpool duty one year and tells a story of a kindergarten girl that would be picked up by her dad on Fridays on a motorcycle...the principal at first questioned it but apparently when a child is old enough to not need an actual car seat and are at least 5 years old, they can ride a motorcycle
Posted by ruzil
WNC
Member since Feb 2012
18466 posts
Posted on 2/2/20 at 6:47 pm to
quote:


Not to mention it's easier for law enforcement to use age instead of height and weight out in the field.


How’s that?




By looking at their teeth, dummy.
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