S-3925

AN ACT Relating to child passenger restraint systems; amending RCW 46.61.687 and 46.61.688; and adding new sections to chapter 46.61 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 46.61.687 and 1994 c 100 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Whenever a child who is less than ((~~ten~~)) sixteen years of age is being transported in a motor vehicle that is in operation and that is required by RCW 46.37.510 to be equipped with a safety belt system in a passenger seating position, the driver of the vehicle shall keep the child properly restrained in a child restraint system that complies with standards of the United States department of transportation and that is secured in the vehicle in accordance with instructions of the manufacturer of the child restraint system as follows:

(a) If the child is less than one year of age, the child shall be properly restrained in a rear-facing infant seat;

(b) If the child is more than one but less than ((~~three~~)) four years of age and/or weighs less than forty pounds, the child shall be properly restrained in a forward facing child safety seat restraint system ((~~that complies with standards of the United States department of transportation and that is secured in the vehicle in accordance with instructions of the manufacturer of the child restraint system~~));

((~~(b)~~)) (c) If the child is less than ((~~ten~~)) eight years of age and/or eighty pounds but at least ((~~three~~)) four years of age, the child shall be properly restrained ((~~either as specified in (a) of this subsection or with a safety belt properly adjusted and fastened around the child's body.~~)) in a child booster seat;

(d) If the child is eight years of age or older or weighs more than eighty pounds, the child shall be properly restrained with the motor vehicle's safety belt properly adjusted and fastened around the child's body; and

(e) The driver of a vehicle transporting a child under the age of eight years old and/or eighty pounds, when the vehicle is equipped with a passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system, shall transport the child in the back seat positions in the vehicle where it is practical to do so.

(2) A person violating subsection (1)(a) through (c) of this section may be issued a notice of traffic infraction under chapter 46.63 RCW. If the person to whom the notice was issued presents proof of acquisition of an approved child passenger restraint system within seven days to the jurisdiction issuing the notice and the person has not previously had a violation of this section dismissed, the jurisdiction shall dismiss the notice of traffic infraction.

(3) Failure to comply with the requirements of this section shall not constitute negligence by a parent or legal guardian; nor shall failure to use a child restraint system be admissible as evidence of negligence in any civil action.

(4) This section does not apply to: (a) For hire vehicles, (b) vehicles designed to transport sixteen or less passengers, including the driver, operated by auto transportation companies, as defined in RCW 81.68.010, ((~~and~~)) (c) vehicles providing customer shuttle service between parking, convention, and hotel facilities, and airport terminals, and (d) school buses.

Sec. 2. RCW 46.61.688 and 1990 c 250 s 58 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) For the purposes of this section, the term "motor vehicle" includes:

(a) "Buses," meaning motor vehicles with motive power, except trailers, designed to carry more than ten passengers;

(b) "Multipurpose passenger vehicles," meaning motor vehicles with motive power, except trailers, designed to carry ten persons or less that are constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation;

(c) "Passenger cars," meaning motor vehicles with motive power, except multipurpose passenger vehicles, motorcycles, or trailers, designed for carrying ten passengers or less; and

(d) "Trucks," meaning motor vehicles with motive power, except trailers, designed primarily for the transportation of property.

(2) This section only applies to motor vehicles that meet the manual seat belt safety standards as set forth in federal motor vehicle safety standard 208. This section does not apply to a vehicle occupant for whom no safety belt is available when all designated seating positions as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard 208 are occupied.

(3) Every person sixteen years of age or older operating or riding in a motor vehicle shall wear the safety belt assembly in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner.

(4) No person may operate a motor vehicle unless all child passengers under the age of sixteen years are either wearing a safety belt assembly or are securely fastened into an approved child restraint device.

(5) A person violating this section shall be issued a notice of traffic infraction under chapter 46.63 RCW. A finding that a person has committed a traffic infraction under this section shall be contained in the driver's abstract but shall not be available to insurance companies or employers.

(6) Failure to comply with the requirements of this section does not constitute negligence, nor may failure to wear a safety belt assembly be admissible as evidence of negligence in any civil action.

(7) ((Enforcement of this section by law enforcement officers may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a motor vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of Title 46 RCW or an equivalent local ordinance or some other offense.

~~(8)~~)) This section does not apply to an operator or passenger who possesses written verification from a licensed physician that the operator or passenger is unable to wear a safety belt for physical or medical reasons.

((~~(9)~~)) (8) The state patrol may adopt rules exempting operators or occupants of farm vehicles, construction equipment, and vehicles that are required to make frequent stops from the requirement of wearing safety belts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:

The traffic safety commission shall conduct an educational campaign using all available methods to raise public awareness of the importance of properly restraining child passengers and the value of seatbelts to adult motorists. The traffic safety commission shall report to the transportation committees of the legislature on the campaign and results observed on the highways. The first report is due December 1, 2000, and annually thereafter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:

This act may be known and cited as the Anton Skeen act.