This bill amends several sections of South Dakota law regarding the use of safety seat belts in passenger vehicles, particularly focusing on the requirements for securing children and young passengers. It specifies that operators of passenger vehicles transporting children under five years of age must secure them in a child passenger restraint system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. Additionally, it establishes that operators must ensure passengers aged five to under eighteen are wearing properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belts, with violations classified as Class 2 misdemeanors rather than petty offenses.

The bill also repeals a provision that mandated enforcement of seat belt laws as a secondary action by law enforcement agencies. It clarifies that violations of the seat belt requirements are not considered moving traffic offenses, which may impact how such violations are recorded and penalized. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen safety regulations for child passengers and streamline enforcement measures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 32-37-1, 32-37-1.1, 32-37-1.2, 32-37-1.3, 32-38-1, 32-38-5