Question about Michigan law - kids being transported in taxi

monzogary · Dec 2, 2010

Here is what a friend is asking me:

"5-year old boy on a booster seat in the front seat and two little 7-year old girls in the back seat with no boosters. Is that legal in Michigan? This is the transportation in a Taxi provided by the Detroit Public School system for these three handicapped children everyday."

Here is the law in Michigan:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/safety_belt_8581_7.pdf

There is an exemption for kids under 4, but it says nothing about booster age kids that I have been able to find. Help me figure this one out please?

TerisBoys · Dec 2, 2010

http://www.ehow.com/list_6835459_michigan-laws-seat-belts-back.html

Sadly, according to that, it's legal. Digging more.

ETA - it is also legal for a child 4-15 to be unrestrained in the backseat of any vehicle if there aren't enough seatbelts.

Article above confirmed by the MSP website (once I figured out the right keywords)
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1586_1710-217402--,00.html

StPaulMom · Dec 2, 2010

It's legal. But just because something is legal doesnt mean it's safe. A car is a car and a crash is a crash and the physics of what happens to a child in a crash dont change based on the legality of how a child rides in a car.

TerisBoys · Dec 2, 2010

I realize this. Which is why I said SADLY.

When battling with the school district, they may pull the "it's legal" card, which leaves a parent with the choice of whether to allow the transport to continue or find alternate means.

StPaulMom · Dec 2, 2010

TerisBoys said:
I realize this. Which is why I said SADLY.

When battling with the school district, they may pull the "it's legal" card, which leaves a parent with the choice of whether to allow the transport to continue or find alternate means.

Parents can advocate for their children with best practice. The school district has an obligation to provide safe transportation to special needs students. School buses are safe because of compartmentalization, which makes a bus a safe option for student transportation. But if the children in the cab meet the legal requirements for not using a booster, then the school district isnt going to make them. If the parents want to use a booster then I dont see why they couldnt just provide their own. If one child is using one, why can't the others? Who is telling them they can't use a booster?

I'm not saying I like the set up, but that's what's available to them.

BookMama · Dec 2, 2010

nak

my understanding is that taxis are exempt from the child restraint law but not the newer booster law.

andre149 · Dec 2, 2010

For the most part, mi carseat laws suck... But legally kids have to be, iirc, eight years old and forty eight inches tall to ride without a booster.

BookMama · Dec 3, 2010

andre149 said:
For the most part, mi carseat laws suck... But legally kids have to be, iirc, eight years old and forty eight inches tall to ride without a booster.

8YO or 4'9" (57")

Question about Michigan law - kids being transported in taxi

monzogary

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TerisBoys

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StPaulMom

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TerisBoys

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StPaulMom

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andre149

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BookMama

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