seatbelt laws and children seats

rb71 wrote:
thanks for all the replies.

makes me wonder if the police even know what the rules are?

its definitely confusing

See my above post. I was a cop in California and I was telling people that only front seat passengers in a motorhome had to wear seatbelts and nobody in the back did. Somebody told me I was wrong so I looked it up, and I was wrong. California snuck in there and changed the law on me and I didn't even know it.

kalynzoo wrote:
I think you will find that a motorhome is considered a home by law enforcement and regulations. The people in the cab must be properly restrained. Behind the cab there really are no regulations. You can have open alcohol in the frig or in the living room cupboard, you can have the TV going, a firearm in the back might not have the same regulations as one transported in a car (States have their own rules). Seat belt and child seats are similarly not required. To the best of my knowledge there have been no test regarding the safety of a seat belt in a motorhome. A tummy belt, without shoulder restraint will do what to a sidewise facing human body at sudden deceleration? Buses do not have seat belts or child seats...probably more for economic reasons rather than proven safety. I am not implying what is best, what is safe, or what is proper...only that many will present their personal feelings about child safety as fact. The fact is that studies have not given an answer.
Just keep in mind the rule of the lugnuts: "The vehicle with the most lugnuts wins"
Be safe, and Happy Trails.

Since I see you are from California, I'll tell you your answer here would have been correct in 1999. It is no longer correct for California. All passengers in a motorhome must be seated and in seatbelts. I'm not sure if the same carseat rules for kids apply, but I think they do.

thanks for all the replies.

makes me wonder if the police even know what the rules are?

its definitely confusing

Why no seatbelts on school buses:

http://www.americanschoolbuscouncil.org/school-bus-information-and-statistics/faq/why-dont-school-buses-have-seat-belts

http://publictransport.about.com/od/Transit_Safety/a/Why-Don-T-Buses-Have-Seatbelts.htm

http://www.nea.org/home/19085.htm

Driver, belted in. Co-driver belted in. All others, my choice. Children and adults are free to roam the coach when in motion subject to my rule which varies depending on conditions. If I say sit, they sit and buckle up. Like the airlines, I light up the seatbelt light. Almost ALL school buses are exempt from seat belt laws....why do you think that is.??? (rhetorical question)..YMMV....Dennis

This is what we did, we went to a local company that builds & equip race cars & had them put 3 point harnesses seat belt systems on our couch. Not the perfect solution but certainly better then those lap belts we had.

mowermech wrote:
"This may vary by state."

THERE is the most operable statement! Also, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse!" applies.
"Reciprocity" probably does NOT apply.
Good luck.

Best response to original question "I'm very close to switching to a A class. But I have young kids (2 6 and 1 10 year old ) and was wondering what the seatbelt laws are.
".
Here in Ontario, everyone in a moving vehicle must be buckled in, No Belt-No ride. Buses and school buses are the exception.
Ken

mpierce wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
The last time I looked into this, the "general law" was:

Children MUST be seat-belted - no exceptions. Child seats and boosters are applicable as required in cars.
Adults must be seat-belted if the seats have seat belts. Meaning, if the dinette seats do not have belts installed, then adults can sit there without seat belts. The cab seats MUST have seat-belts, the rest of the coach is optional.

Another thing to remember is that even if the seat has a seat belt installed, it doesn't mean it is a properly functional seat belt. Many folks added their own seat belts, but just screwed them into the seat base (versus bolting them to the frame).

Yes, but......

I do not know particulars, and it varies from state to state, but most of the time, a vehicle is legal, IF it is the way it came from the factory. ie, Grandfathered. Seat belts are NOT required in that 1934 Ford.

IF your Motorhome was manufactured WITHOUT any seatbelts in the "house", then, passengers are NOT required to wear what is NOT there. My 1990 Bluebird only has lap belts on the two seats in the "cab". None in the house. Was told by Highway Patrol that passengers in the back are not required to wear what was not installed at the factory, and was legal at time of Mfg.

This may vary by state.

What my research had found was that this is NOT applicable to children. The child seat belt laws take "priority". My clipper has 2 lap belts - 1 in each cab seat. A child is therefore only allowed to sit in the passenger seat with the appropriate child seat. An adult may sit in any seat in the clipper - because the lack of seat belts was a "legal omission" at the time of manufacturing. Unless I add aftermarket seat belts to the house seating, I can legally only transport one child (in the passenger seat with appropriate child seat).

You are not allowed to disregard child safety seat laws because your vehicle does not have seat belts - regardless the age of the vehicle. Will you get stopped for having a 4 year old in a 1923 roadster with no child seat? Maybe - maybe not. But if you do, you can be legally fined.

Just one thought ..... When was the last time you got on a city transit bus and restrained your child ( or yourself for that matter) in a seatbelt ? I think there are exceptions we put up with for convenience or lack of a large problem.

Most recent automobiles have special attach points for child safety seats. I do not know of any RV that also has those mounts installed for any child safety seat.
Unless it is properly secured, a child safety seat may not supply the protection that you would like.