This bill amends several sections of South Dakota law regarding the requirements for wearing safety seat belts in passenger vehicles. 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. If the child is under five but weighs at least forty pounds, they may be secured with a seat belt instead. Additionally, the bill establishes that operators must ensure passengers aged five to under eighteen are wearing properly adjusted and fastened seat belts, and it mandates that individuals aged fourteen to under eighteen must also wear seat belts at all times when the vehicle is in motion. Violations of these provisions are classified as Class 2 misdemeanors.

The bill also repeals a previous provision that required enforcement of seat belt laws to be a secondary action by law enforcement, and it clarifies that violations are not considered moving traffic offenses. Overall, the changes aim to enhance child safety in vehicles and strengthen the enforcement of seat belt laws in South Dakota.

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