{"id":1575,"date":"2023-11-11T03:57:58","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T03:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/?p=1575"},"modified":"2023-12-10T10:57:32","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T10:57:32","slug":"car-seat-laws-minnesota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/car-seat-laws-minnesota\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Car Seat Laws (2024)- What Parents Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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According to the Minnesota State Law, children under 8 years old or less than 4 feet 9 inches in height should be secured in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is installed with seat belts based on the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.<\/p>

The child restraint system should meet the standards of the United States Department of Transportation. It can be a car seat or a booster seat.<\/p>

No matter you’re a citizen or a passer-by, it’s better to follow the MN official legislature rules on riding with a child.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the Car Seat Law in Minnesota?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t2021 Minnesota Statutes, 169.685 Subd. 5 (a) says: \n\n\u201cEvery motor vehicle operator, when transporting a child who is both under the age of eight and shorter than four feet nine inches on the streets and highways of this state in a motor vehicle equipped with factory-installed seat belts, shall equip and install for use in the motor vehicle, according to the manufacturer's instructions, a child passenger restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinnesota State Legulations<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMinnesota Rear-facing Car Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMinnesota Forward facing Car Seat Rules\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMinnesota Booster Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen can child sit in front seat Minnesota\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBest car seat to meet Minnesota laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUS Car Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSeat Laws across the United States\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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MN Car Seat Laws Rear-Facing
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The Minnesota law doesn\u2019t say any age, weight, or height requirements for a rear-facing car seat.<\/p>

It only requires that all children must be in a child restraint system until they are 4\u20199\u201d tall, or at least age 8, whichever comes first.<\/p>

However, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS for short in the following) makes it clear with rules that infants and toddlers should travel in the rear-facing car seat<\/a> for as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height set by the manufacturer.\u00a0<\/p>

MN car seat law is not that strict on rear-facing position. As a result, almost all infant car seats meet the rules for safely traveling newborns.<\/p>

The Doona Infant and Stroller might be the best rear-facing car seat option<\/a> to meet the rules in Minnesota.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Minnesota Forward Facing Car Seat Laws <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When can a baby face forward in a car seat in Minnesota?<\/strong><\/p>

You can’t find any rules in MN law mentioning the time when a child can face forward in the car seat<\/a>.<\/p>

According to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, children can travel in the forward-facing car seat once they reach the upper weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.<\/p>

The forward-facing car seat should come with a harness and tether. This is a common regulation suggested by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A 5-point harness reduces the injury for toddlers and preschoolers when they travel in the car facing the front.<\/p>

Most forward-facing car seats, including the convertible, harnessed booster<\/a>, and all-in-one car seats, allow up to 65 pounds for weight and 4 feet 9 inches for height. That typically happens when a child is 5-6 years old.<\/p>

Graco Extend2Fit may be the best forward-facing option<\/a> for the MN car seat law.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is The Law for Booster Seats in Minnesota?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In Minnesota, according to 169.685 Subd. 5 rule (a) and (e) in 2021 Minnesota Statutes, children must be secured in a booster seat until they are 8 years of age or 4 feet 9 inches tall.<\/p>

It seems the 8 years old is the booster seat age requirement in Minnesota, but this regulation is not stated in the laws.<\/p>

The Minnesota DPS indicates that booster seats should be the safest option to travel a child after the child outgrows their forward-facing harnessed car seats.<\/p>

It\u2019s best to keep using the forward-facing car seat as long as the child outgrows the weight or height limit allowed by the manufacturer, the transition to the booster seat.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Seat Belt Laws for Child in Minnesota<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There is no age, weight, or height rule for a child to use a seat belt mentioned in the MN car seat laws.<\/p>

But the Minnesota DPS gives us the guideline – A child is ready to use the vehicle’s seat belt when the seat belt fits them properly.\u00a0<\/p>

How do you know if properly or not?<\/p>

You can check if your child\u00a0can sit with their back against the vehicle seat and have their knees bent comfortably over the edge with their feet touching the floor.<\/p>

The best practice is to keep using the booster seat until your child approaches the top weight or height limit given by the manufacturer.<\/p>

Most boosters, including harnessed, high back, and backless, allow 100-120 pounds and 57-63 inches in height. This typically happens at a child’s 8-12 years of age.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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When can a child sit in the front seat in Minnesota?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Minnesota doesn\u2019t have any laws or regulations for a child to sit in the front seat.<\/p>

But the Minnesota DPS<\/a> suggests the best safety tip is to keep your child sitting in the back seat when it is available.<\/p>

Child safety experts and guidelines from NHTSA<\/a> recommend a child younger than 13 years of age have a seat in the rear.\u00a0<\/p>

It’s not allowed to place a car seat in the front seat when the airbag is active.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Penalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in Minnesota<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From the Minnesota Legislature, 169.685 Subd. 5 rule, drivers who violate this law shall be fined up to $50.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Minnesota Car Seat Laws Apply for<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The driver is responsible for child safety in motor vehicles. The law applies to<\/p>