Properly utilizing seat belts, car seats in a vehicle
Published on July 23, 2024 at 2:20pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0Ask A Trooper
Sgt. Jesse Grabow
Question: I heard there were some changes in the seat belt law and child restraints. Can you talk about this?
Answer: Yes, there are new updates to the child passenger safety (CPS) law that go into effect on August 1, 2024.
Birth to at least 2 years old.- Rear-facing in an infant or convertible child safety seat.
At least 2 years old AND has outgrown the rear-facing seat with internal harness by height or weight.- Forward-facing with an internal harness.
4 Years old AND has outgrown the forward-facing seat with internal harness by height or weight.- Ride restrained in a belt-positioning booster seat using the lap belt and shoulder belt.
9 years old or has outgrown the booster seat AND the child can pass the 5-step test.- Ride restrained with a lap belt and shoulder belt secured correctly on the vehicle seat.
A child, under age 13, must sit in a back seat, if possible.
The 5-step test demonstrates how the seat belt fits correctly:
1. The child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat.
2. The child’s knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat.
3. The lap belt fits snugly across the hips near the top of the child’s thighs, not the child’s abdomen.
4. The shoulder belt snugly crosses the center of the child’s chest and shoulder, not the child’s neck.
5. The child sits correctly, without slouching, for the duration of the ride.
Every driver who transports a child or children under the age of 18 years in a motor vehicle is required to have the child or children restrained in a child safety seat or seat belt.
If a child can be placed in more than one category, then the child must be placed in the more protective category (rear-facing being the most protective category).
The weight and height limits of a child passenger restraint system under this law are as established by the child passenger restraint system manufacturer. This information can be located on the child safety seat/booster seat itself, the owner’s manual or online.
A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).