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<section article="gtr" article_name="Transportation" number="22-412.2" title_number="22" title_name="Vehicle Laws -- Equipment of Vehicles" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Other Equipment">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Child safety seat” means a device, including a child booster seat, that the manufacturer:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Certifies is manufactured in accordance with applicable federal safety standards; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Intends to be used to restrain, seat, or position a child who is transported in a motor vehicle.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Child safety seat” does not mean a seat belt or combination seat belt–shoulder harness used alone.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Seat belt” means a restraining device described under § 22–412 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Seat belt” includes a combination seat belt–shoulder harness.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A child safety seat meets the requirements of this section only if it is installed and used in accordance with the directions of the manufacturer.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>This section applies to the transportation of a child in:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A motor vehicle registered, or of a type capable of being registered, in this State as a:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Class A (passenger) vehicle;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Class E (truck) vehicle; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Class M (multipurpose) vehicle; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A vehicle registered in another state or Puerto Rico that is the same type of vehicle as a vehicle identified in item (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person transporting a child under the age of 8 years in a motor vehicle shall secure the child in a child safety seat in accordance with the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches tall or taller.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person transporting a child under the age of 2 years in a motor vehicle shall secure the child in a rear–facing child safety seat that complies with applicable federal regulations until the child reaches the weight or height limit specified by the manufacturer of the child safety seat.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Subject to subsection (d) of this section, a person may not transport a child under the age of 16 years unless the child is secured in:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A child safety seat in accordance with the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A seat belt.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section, if a physician, who is licensed to practice medicine in the state in which the vehicle transporting the child is registered, certifies in writing that use of a child safety seat by a particular child would be impractical due to the child’s weight, height, physical unfitness, or other medical reason, there is not a violation of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>A child safety seat or seat belt may not be used to restrain, seat, or position more than one individual at a time.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>A violation of this section is not contributory negligence and may not be admitted as evidence in the trial of any civil action.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>A violation of this section is not considered a moving violation for purposes of § 16–402 of this article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>The failure to provide a child safety seat or seat belt for more than one child in the same vehicle at the same time, as required by this section, shall be treated as a single violation.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, any person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a fine of $50.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A person who violates subsection (d)(2) of this section by securing a child under the age of 2 years in a child safety seat that is not rear–facing is subject to a written warning for a first violation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A judge may waive a fine under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection if the person charged with a violation of this section:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Did not possess a child safety seat at the time of the violation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Acquires a child safety seat prior to the hearing date; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Provides proof of acquisition to the court.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>The Department of Transportation and the Maryland Department of Health shall jointly implement the Child Safety Seat Program and foster compliance with this section through educational and promotional efforts.</text>
  </level>
</section>
