An Act To O Update the Laws Governing Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1269
Committee Amendment CA_A_S217 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 389, L.D. 1269, Bill, "An Act To 
O 
Update the Laws Governing Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts" 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 in subsection 1 by inserting after paragraph A-2 
the following: 
'A-3. "Convertible child restraint system" means a child restraint system capable of 
positioning a child to face either in the direction of the front of the motor vehicle or 
the rear of the motor vehicle.' 
1,6 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 in subsection 1 in paragraph D in the 2nd line 
(page 1, line 30 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "in the direction opposite to the 
normal direction of travel" and inserting the following: 'the rear' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 by striking out all of subsection 2-A (page 2, 
lines 5 to 12 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'2-A. Children under 2 years of age. When a child who is less than 2 years of age 
is being transported in a motor vehicle that is required by the United States Department of 
Transportation to be equipped with seat belts, the operator shall ensure that the child is 
properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system or convertible child restraint 
system properly secured in the rear-facing position in accordance with the child restraint 
system manufacturer's instructions and the vehicle manufacturer's instructions, except if 
the child is in a convertible child restraint system and the child exceeds the manufacturer 
recommended weight limit for the rear-facing position the child may be properly secured 
in a forward-facing position in accordance with the child restraint system manufacturer's 
instructions and the vehicle manufacturer's instructions. Violation of this subsection is a 
traffic infraction for which a fme of $50 for the first offense, $125 for the 2nd offense and 
$250 for the 3rd and subsequent offenses must be imposed. A fine imposed under this 
subsection may not be suspended by the court.' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 in subsection 2-B in the 7th and 8th line (page 2, 
lines 19 and 20 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "$70 for the first offense, $160 for 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 389, L.D. 1269 
the 2nd offense and $310" and inserting the following: '$50 for the first offense, $125 for 
the 2nd offense and $250' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 in subsection 3 in the 5th and 6th lines (page 2, 
lines 26 and 27 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "-$W $70 for the first offense, $-1-U 
$160 for the 2nd offense and~ $310" and inserting the following: '$50 for the first 
offense, $125 for the 2nd offense and $250' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 in subsection 3-A in the 9th and 10th lines (page 
3, lines 9 and 10 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "-$W $70 for the first offense, 
$-1-U $160 for the 2nd offense and ~ 
$31 O" and inserting the following: '$50 for the 
first offense, $125 for the 2nd offense and $250' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2081 by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 3, lines 
to 37 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'5. Evidence. In an accident involving a motor vehicle, the nonuse of seat belts by 
the operator or passengers or the failure to secure a child is not admissible in evidence in 
a civil or criminal trial, except in a trial for violation of this section.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes to the bill. 
1. It defines "convertible child restraint system" and allows a child under 2 years of 
age properly secured in a convertible child restraint system to ride in a forward-facing 
position if the child exceeds the manufacturer recommended weight limit for a rear-facing 
position. 
2. It retains fmes for the violation of seat belt laws at current statutory levels. 
3. It removes the changes in the bill regarding the inadmissibility of evidence for 
failure to properly secure a child. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/31/19 feac 
LD 1269 
LR 1448(02) 
An Act To Update the Laws Governing Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''A'( S-JI 7} 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time. 
The collection of additional fine revenue will increase General Fund and dedicated revenue by minor amounts. 
LR1448(02) - Fiscal ~ote - Page 1 of 1