CHOOSE A SEAT HOW TO INSTALL COMMON ERRORS FREQUENT QUESTIONS THE LAW RESOURCES

What Does Minnesota Law Say?
Spanish
Hmong
Somali

Minnesota's law
Exceptions to the law
Best practices

Minnesota's Child Passenger Restraint Law
Minnesota Statute 169.685, Subd. 5

  • Minnesota Law: A child who is both under age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches is required to be fastened in a child safety seat that meets federal safety standards. Under this law, a child cannot use a seat belt alone until they are age 8, or 4 feet 9 inches tall. It is recommended to keep a child in a booster based on their height rather than their age. (Check the instruction book or label of the child safety seat to be sure it is the right seat for your child’s weight and height.)
  • Safety seats must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Child must be secured (buckled) in the safety seat.
  • Seat must be secured to the vehicle.
  • Infants (under 20 pounds and one year of age) must be in a rear-facing safety seat.
  • Law applies to all motor vehicles originally built with factory-installed seat belts.
  • Law applies to all seating positions — everybody, every seat, every time.
  • Driver is responsible.
  • Petty misdemeanor fine for violation is $50 (may be waived if violator shows proof of obtaining a safety seat within 14 days).
  • Applies to both residents and non-residents of Minnesota.
  • Suspected non-use is a valid basis to stop a motor vehicle.

Exceptions to the law

  • Children riding in emergency medical vehicles, when medical needs make use of a restraint unreasonable.
  • Children riding in a motor vehicle for hire, including a taxi, airport limousine or bus, but excluding a rented, leased or borrowed motor vehicle.
  • Children riding with a peace officer on official duty, when a restraint is not available (a seat belt must be substituted).
  • Children certified by a licensed physician as having a medical, physical or mental disability that makes restraint use inadvisable.
  • Passengers in school buses.
Child Safety Seat Guidelines (brochure)

Source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety

Best Practices

  • When a child reaches age 4, if they still fit properly in their child car seat, keep using it until your child reaches the seat's upper limit for height and weight.
  • If your child is eight years old but shorter than 4'9", continue to use the booster seat.
  • Children under the age of 13 should sit in the back seat of a vehicle.
  • Put any loose objects in the trunk or secure them. In a crash, loose items can strike with great force and cause serious injury.

Vehicles with lap belts only

Laws of neighboring states

Illinois (State of Illinois)
Iowa (Iowa Department of Transportation)
Michigan (Michigan State Police)
Nebraska (Department of Education)
North Dakota (North Dakota Department of Health)
South Dakota (South Dakota Department of Public Safety)
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Transportation)

Protect children from traffic injuries. You can do it!

Content provided by the Minnesota Safety Council, AAA Clubs of Minnesota, Safe Kids Minnesota and the
Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety.