Sec. 14-100a. Seat safety belts. Child restraint systems. (a) No new
passenger motor vehicle may be sold or registered in this state unless equipped
with at least two sets of seat safety belts for the front and rear seats of the
motor vehicle, which belts comply with the requirements of subsection (b) of
this section. The anchorage unit at the attachment point shall be of such
construction, design and strength as to support a loop load strength of not
less than four thousand pounds for each belt.
(b) No seat safety belt may be sold for use in connection with the operation
of a motor vehicle on any highway of this state unless it is so constructed and
installed as to have a loop strength through the complete attachment of not less
than four thousand pounds, and the buckle or closing device shall be of such
construction and design that after it has received the aforesaid loop belt
load it can be released with one hand with a pull of less than forty-five
pounds.
(c) (1) The operator of and any front seat passenger in a private passenger
motor vehicle, as defined in subsection (e) of section 38a-363, fire fighting
apparatus or a vanpool vehicle equipped with seat safety belts complying with
the provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 571.209,
as amended from time to time, shall wear such seat safety belt while the vehicle
is being operated on the highways of this state, except that a child under
the age of four years shall be restrained as provided in subsection (d) of
this section. Each operator of such vehicle shall secure or cause to be
secured in a seat safety belt any passenger four years of age or older and
under sixteen years of age.
(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to
any person whose physical disability or impairment would prevent restraint in
such safety belt, provided such person obtains a written statement from a
licensed physician containing reasons for such person's inability to wear such
safety belt and including information concerning the nature and extent of such
condition. Such person shall carry the statement on his person or in the motor
vehicle at all times when it is being operated.
(3) As used in this subsection, "private passenger motor vehicle" does not
mean an authorized emergency vehicle, other than fire fighting apparatus,
responding to an emergency call or a motor vehicle operated (A) by a rural
letter carrier of the United States postal service while performing his
official duties, or (B) by a person engaged in the delivery of newspapers.
(4) Failure to wear a seat safety belt shall not be considered as
contributory negligence nor shall such failure be admissible evidence in any
civil action.
(5) On and after February 1, 1986, any person who violates the provisions of
this subsection shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined fifteen
dollars. Points may not be assessed against the operator's license of any person
convicted of such violation.
(d) Any person who transports a child under the age of four
years, weighing less than forty pounds, in a motor vehicle on the highways of
this state shall provide and require the child to use a child restraint system
approved pursuant to regulations adopted by the Department of Motor Vehicles in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. Any person who transports a child
under the age of four years, weighing forty or more pounds, in a motor vehicle
on the highways of this state shall either provide and require the child to use
an approved child restraint system or require the child to use a seat safety
belt. As used in this subsection, "motor vehicle" does not mean a bus having a
tonnage rating of one ton or more. Failure to use a child restraint system
shall not be considered as contributory negligence nor shall such failure be
admissible evidence in any civil action. Any person who violates the provisions
of this subsection shall, for a first violation, have committed an infraction;
for a second violation, be fined not more than one hundred ninety-nine
dollars; and, for a third or subsequent violation, be guilty of a class A
misdemeanor. The commissioner shall require any person who has committed a
first or second violation of the provisions of this subsection to attend a
child car seat safety course offered or approved by the Department of Motor
Vehicles. The commissioner may, after notice and an opportunity for a
hearing, suspend for a period of not more than two months the motor
vehicle operator's license of any person who fails to attend or
successfully complete the course.
