OK, if I owned a regular cab pick up truck and I had to take my 4 year old daughter (or 2 year old son) somewhere in it, naturally, they would have their car seat/booster seat in the front because there would be no back seat.

However, because I drive a screw, even though it is a pickup, I would assume they need to sit in the back seat because there is one. Or, because it is a pick-up, would I be able to let them sit in the front and still be OK?

I'm sure they would need to sit in back but they love sitting up front because they can see everything. And I like being able to talk to them or look over at them, easily grab something they may have dropped etc... Obviously I would never do anything to jeopardize their safety, but I had always wondered if I would get ticketed if I did have one of them in the passenger seat instead of the back seat. Simply because it is a truck...

Thanks,

 

I don't know about MI but in KY there is no law stating kids HAVE to be in the back seat, it's just the safest place to be in a vehicle. Your screw should have an auto sensor that would deactivate the airbag if a child were in the seat so that isn't a problem.

 

Good to know. Thanks. Yes, it does allow me to deactivate the airbag sensor on the passenger side. I'm hoping Copenhagen will see this thread and chime in, I think he's a LEO here in MI.

I told my wife that I wanted to start having our 4 year old daughter sit in the front of the truck with her booster when it's just her and I, but she seemed to think that because it has a back seat, that I would get ticketed if pulled over. I told her that I would ask the experts...

 

I was born in August, so I am going to answer the question. I am almost positive, that in Texas, they have to be in the back seat.

 

It's going to vary from state to state. In Texas, the child must be in a car seat that is secured by a seat belt and be in the back seat OR the front passenger safety air bag must be disabled and the child secured there. You cannot have a child in a car in the front and the air bag still active.

 

Its recommended not to be in the front seat until 12 years of age in my area.

 

X2.

If they're still in a booster seat, they cannot be in the front (unless it's all you've got I guess).

Check with your local PD, they'll tell ya.

 

I did some googling - it looks to me like it's legal in Michigan for your children to be in the front seat as long as they are properly restrained in a properly installed car seat or booster seat as applicable and the air bag is turned off.

 

False

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/directo...ildSafetySeats

There is no stipulation in Texas law regarding the positioning of a child passenger safety seat system within the passenger compartment. The law says that the car seat must be secured utilizing the method according to the instructions of the manufacturer and makes no mention to front seat, back seat, or airbags.

ox

 

Hope this answers your question:

"......Question: I have tried to find information on infant and child car seat laws. Car seats come with recommendations but never list the law. My friends and I want to make sure our children are restrained properly and according to the law but everywhere I turn I can find no information on what those laws are. How long do children have to be in "car seats" versus just the seat of the car for instance?


Answer: Michigan's child restraint law states that every child under the age of 4 years must be properly restrained in a child restraint seat no matter where they are seated in the vehicle.

The law does not cover where the children should ride but, regardless of what the law states, we know that there are safer ways to transport children in a motor vehicle. Statistics consistently show that the rear seat is the safest place for all children 12 and under.

Federal standards require child seat manufacturers or automotive manufacturers in the case of built-in child seats, to provide instructions and label these seats with warnings for incorrect placement. To comply with state law you MUST follow the manufacturers instructions......."

Found here:

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7...,00.html#belts

 

Just going with what my son-in-law and daughter have said. Any time we transport one of the grandkids, they have said it has to be in the rear seat.

 

Thanks Cope - I wasn't sure if there was a clear cut answer or not. I knew about the correct car seats and ages, but wasn't sure about specifc law saying she couldn't be upfront with me in her booster seat.

I know the back seat is the safest place for the kids, but this would be for the occasional trip around town. We're going to be moving soon and I'll have my truck completely packed, back seats folded down. So I wanted to see if I had that option.

 

As another August born Leo I will provide the list state by state...

http://www.iihs.org/laws/ChildRestraint.aspx

 

My supercrew does not have the passenger airbag manual disable. no weight sensor in the seat either....

 

idk if it like this in all of our trucks, but in my 07 screw the passenger airbag is off if there is less than 60lbs in the seat. above the radio you will notice that it is lit up orange/amber say passenger airbag is off unless the required weight is in the seat