This bill mandates that children under the age of 2 years must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system when traveling in a motor vehicle. The bill amends RSA 265:107-a, I-b to include new requirements for child restraint systems, which must comply with the safety standards approved by the United States Department of Transportation in 49 C.F.R. section 571.213. The new legal language inserted into the current law specifies that each child restraint system must be used according to its manufacturer's instructions, which include height and weight limits, proper attachment to the vehicle, correct securement of the child, and adherence to expiry dates.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, I-c, which specifically addresses the requirement for rear-facing child restraint systems for passengers under 2 years of age. The bill stipulates that no person shall drive a vehicle with a passenger less than 2 years old unless the child is properly fastened and secured by a rear-facing child restraint system that meets safety standards. The act is approved on July 28, 2023, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. There are no deletions from the current law mentioned in the provided text.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:107-a
Version adopted by both bodies: 265:107-a
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 265:107-a