Anton's Law
PL 107-318 (H.R.5504), enacted 12/04/2002

116 STAT. 2772 
PUBLIC LAW 107-318—DEC. 4, 2002 
Public Law 107-318 
107th Congress 
An Act 
Dec. 4, 2002 
To provide for the improvement of the safety of child restraints in passenger 
[HR 5504] 
motor vehicles, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Anton's Law. 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
49 use 30127 
note. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as "Anton's Law". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) It is the policy of the Department of Transportation 
that all child occupants of motor vehicles, regardless of seating 
position, be appropriately restrained in order to reduce the 
incidence of injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle 
crashes on the streets, roads, and highways. 
(2) Research has shown that very few children between 
the ages of 4 to 8 ye£irs old are in the appropriate restraint 
for their age when riding in passenger motor vehicles. 
(3) Children who have outgrown their child ssifety seats 
should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until an adult 
seat belt fits properly. 
(4) Children who were properly restrained when riding 
in passenger motor vehicles suffered less severe injuries fi-om 
accidents than children not properly restrained. 
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENT OF SAFETY OF CHILD RESTRAINTS IN PAS-
SENGER MOTOR VEHICLES. 
Regulations. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation (hereafter 
referred to as the "Secretary") shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding 
to establish performance requirements for child restraints, including 
booster seats, for the restraint of children weighing more than 
50 pounds. 
(b) ELEMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In the rulemaking pro-
ceeding required by subsection (a), the Secretary shsdl— 
(1) consider whether to include injury performance criteria 
for child restraints, including booster seats and other products 
for use in passenger motor vehicles for the restraint of children 
weighing more than 50 poimds, under the requirements estab-
lished in the rulemaking proceeding; 
(2) consider whether to establish performance requirements 
for seat belt fit when used with booster seats euid other belt 
guidance devices; 
(3) consider whether to address situations where children 
weighing more than 50 pounds only have access to seating 
PUBLIC LAW 107-318—DEC. 4, 2002 
116 STAT. 2773 
positions with lap belts, such as allowing tethered child 
restraints for such children; and 
(4) review the definition of the term "booster seat" in Fed-
eral motor vehicle safety standard No. 213 under section 
571.213 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to determine 
if it is sufficiently comprehensive. 
(c) COMPLETION.—The Secretary shall complete the rulemaking Deadline. 
proceeding required by subsection (a) not later than 30 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DEVICE SIMU- 
Deadlines. 
LATING A 10-YEAR OLD CHILD. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION.—Not later than 24 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
develop and evaluate an anthropomorphic test device that simulates 
a 10-year old child for use in testing child restraints used in 
passenger motor vehicles. 
(b) ADOPTION BY RULEMAKING.—^Within 1 year following the 
development and evaluation carried out under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding for the adoption 
of an anthropomorphic test device as developed under subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 5. REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLATION OF LAP AND SHOULDER 
Deadlines. 
BELTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 24 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a rule-
making proceeding to amend Federal motor vehicle safety standard 
No. 208 under section 571.208 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, relating to occupant crash protection, in order to— 
(1) require a lap and shoulder belt assembly for each rear 
designated seating position in a passenger motor vehicle with 
a gross vehicle y^eight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, except 
that if the Secretary determines that installation of a lap and 
shoulder belt assembly is not practicable for a particular des-
ignated seating position in a particular type of passenger motor 
vehicle, the Secretary may exclude the designated seating posi-
tion from the requirement; and 
(2) apply that requirement to passenger motor vehicles 
in phases in accordance with subsection (b). 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE.—The requirement prescribed 
under subsection (a)(1) shall be implemented in phases on a produc-
tion year basis beginning with the production year that begins 
not later than 12 months after the end of the year in which 
the regulations are prescribed under subsection (a). The final rule Applicability. 
shall apply to all passenger motor vehicles with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less that are manufactured in 
the third production year of the implementation phase-in under 
the schedule. 
SEC. 6. EVALUATION OF INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SYSTEMS. 
Deadlines. 
(a) EVALUATION.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate an evaluation 
of integrated or built-in child restraints emd booster seats. The 
evaluation should include— 
(1) the safety of the child restraint and correctness of 
fit for the child; 
116 STAT. 2774 
PUBLIC LAW 107-318—DEC. 4, 2002 
(2) the availability of testing data on the system and vehicle 
in which the child restraint will be used; 
(3) the compatibility of the child restraint with different 
makes and models; 
(4) the cost-effectiveness of mass production of the child 
restraint for consumers; 
(5) the ease of use and relative availability of the child 
restraint to children riding in motor vehicles; and 
(6) the benefits of built-in seats for improving compliance 
with State child occupant restraint laws. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report of this evaluation. 
SEC. 7. DEFmrriONS. 
As used in this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) CHILD RESTRAINT.—The term "child restraint" means 
£uiy product designed to provide restraint to a child (including 
booster seats and other products used with a lap and shoulder 
belt assembly) that meets applicable Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards prescribed by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration. 
(2) PRODUCTION YEAR.—The term "production year" means 
the 12-month period between September 1 of a year and August 
31 of the following year. 
(3) PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term "passenger 
motor vehicle" has the meaning given that term in section 
405(f)(5) of title 23, United States Code. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
$5,000,000 to the Secretary of Transportation for— 
(1) the evaluation required by section 6 of this Act; and 
(2) research of the nature and causes of injury to children 
involved in motor vehicle crashes. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-318—DEC. 4, 2002 
116 STAT. 2775 
(b) LIMITATION.—Funds appropriated under subsection (a) shall 
not be avEiilable for the general administrative expenses of the 
Secretary. 
Approved December 4, 2002. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5504 (S. 980): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-726 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 107-137 accompanying S. 980 (Comm. on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002): 
Nov. 14, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 18, considered and passed Senate.