Minnesota Session Laws - 1988, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1988 

                        CHAPTER 415-H.F.No. 1816 
           An act relating to traffic regulations; requiring 
          motor vehicle lessors to provide child passenger 
          restraints on request; amending Minnesota Statutes 
          1987 Supplement, section 169.685, subdivision 6. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1987 Supplement, section 
169.685, subdivision 6, is amended to read:  
    Subd. 6.  (a) This section does not apply to: 
    (1) a person transporting a child in an emergency medical 
vehicle while in the performance of official duties and when the 
physical or medical needs of the child make the use of a child 
passenger restraint system unreasonable or when a child 
passenger restraint system is not available; 
    (2) a peace officer transporting a child while in the 
performance of official duties and when a child passenger 
restraint system is not available, provided that a seat belt 
must be substituted; and 
    (3) a person while operating a motor vehicle for hire, 
including a taxi, airport limousine, and bus, but excluding a 
rented, leased, or borrowed motor vehicle. 
    (b) A child passenger restraint system is not required for 
a child who cannot, in the judgment of a licensed physician, be 
safely transported in a child passenger restraint system because 
of a medical condition, body size, or physical disability.  A 
motor vehicle operator claiming exemption for a child under this 
paragraph must possess a typewritten statement from the 
physician stating that the child cannot be safely transported in 
a child passenger restraint system.  The statement must give the 
name and birth date of the child, be dated within the previous 
six months, and be made on the physician's letterhead or contain 
the physician's name, address, and telephone number.  A person 
charged with violating subdivision 5 may not be convicted if the 
person produces the physician's statement in court or in the 
office of the arresting officer. 
     (c) A person offering a motor vehicle for rent or lease 
shall provide a child passenger restraint device to a customer 
renting or leasing the motor vehicle who requests the device.  A 
reasonable rent or fee may be charged for use of the child 
passenger restraint device. 
    Approved March 25, 1988