Bill
HB 955
84(R) - 2015
House Transportation
House Transportation
Overcriminalization
Transportation & Infrastructure
Vote Recommendation
No
-
Negative
-
Neutral
-
Negative
-
Negative
-
Neutral
Author(s)
Chris Turner
Co-Author(s)
Byron Cook
Susan King
Joe Moody
John Zerwas
Bill Caption
Relating to the creation of an offense for failing to secure certain children in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system.
Fiscal Notes
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
This legislation would amend the Transportation Code to make it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not
less than $25 and not more than $250, to transport a child who is
younger than two years of age while not keeping the child secured during the operation of the
vehicle in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system, according to the system
manufacturer's instructions, unless the child's height or weight exceeds the limits established by
the manufacturer.
Vote Recommendation Notes
We oppose this legislation under the limited government, personal responsibility, and free market principles. This bill would mandate parents to purchase a specific type of car-seat for their children under two years of age, and also charge them with a misdemeanor if they do not obey the manufacturers instructions for each particular car seat. The enforcement of manufacturers instructions, is different and not synonymous with the rule of law, and it is incredibly ambiguous for the purpose of enforcement, as every car seat manufacturer has different wording or explanation as to how to use the seat.