SAFETY BELT USE - S.B. 335: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 335 (as introduced 2-18-99)
Sponsor: Senator Bill Bullard, Jr.
Committee: Transportation and Tourism
Date Completed: 3-4-99
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to delete the provision under which the Code's requirements on wearing a safety belt in a motor vehicle may be enforced only as a secondary action when a vehicle driver has been detained for a suspected violation of another provision of the Code. The bill also would require that all passengers use a safety belt, and that all children under four be in a child restraint system.
The Code requires that each driver and front seat passenger of a motor vehicle operated on a street or highway in the State wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt, except that a child under four years of age must be protected as required in the Code. The bill would delete reference to the front seat, and would add that if there were more passengers than safety belts available for use, and all safety belts in the motor vehicle were being used in compliance with the Code, the driver of the motor vehicle would be in compliance with the Code.
Under the Code, a driver transporting a child in a motor vehicle is required to secure the child properly in a child restraint system. A child at least one year of age but less than four years when transported in the front seat must be in a child restraint system that meets specified Federal regulations. The bill would delete the reference to being transported in the front seat. In addition, the bill would delete the current requirement that a child of the same age when transported in a rear seat, be in a child restraint system that meets specified Federal regulations, unless the child is secured by a safety belt provided in the motor vehicle.
The bill would retain the current requirement that any child under the age of one be in a child restraint system.
MCL 257.710d & 257.710e - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: B. Baker
S9900\s335sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.