Child seat safety laws in South Dakota
To protect children in the event of an accident, each state has laws regarding the use of child seats. The laws vary slightly from state to state, but are always based on common sense and are designed to prevent children from being injured or even killed.
Summary of Child Seat Safety Laws in South Dakota
In South Dakota, child seat safety laws can be summarized as follows:
Anyone driving a vehicle carrying a child under the age of five must ensure that the child is secured in the restraint system in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The system must meet the safety standards set by the Department of Transportation.
Children under the age of 5 who weigh 40 pounds or more can be secured using the car's seat belt system. An exception applies if the car was manufactured before 1966 and does not have seat belts.
Children and infants weighing less than 20 pounds must be seated in a rear-facing child safety seat that can recline 30 degrees.
Children and infants weighing 20 pounds or more, but no more than 40, must sit in a rear-facing reclining or forward-facing upright car seat.
Toddlers weighing 30 pounds or more must be secured in a child seat that has either a shield, shoulder harnesses, or tether. If the seat has a screen, it can be used with the car's lap belt.
Fines
The penalty for violating child seat safety laws in South Dakota is a $150 fine.
Child seat safety laws are in place to prevent injury or death to your child, so make sure you have the correct restraint system, install and use it correctly.
