AAA Minnesota/Iowa Disappointed with House of Reps Move Involving Child Passenger Safety

Earlier in the week, the House Ways & Means Committee deleted language out of the House Public Safety Omnibus bill that would have reportedly saved the lives of Minnesota children and prevented substantial numbers of severe injuries.

That language would have strengthened Minnesota’s child passenger safety law, which currently is reportedly one of the weakest in the nation.

Despite the bill’s support from more than 70 law enforcement agencies and two dozen medical organizations, committee members deleted the language from the bill on a 15-11 division vote. While the bill passed the Senate 44-18 and also is included in the Senate Transportation Omnibus bill, the actions of the House Ways and Means Committee has reportedly severely damaged the opportunity Minnesota had to enhance its child passenger safety laws.

“It especially is disappointing to know that as Minnesota approaches a record-high fatality rate, according to the Department of Public Safety, some Minnesota legislators have done little to make the roads safer for even our youngest and most vulnerable citizens,” stated Jeff Ogden, president of AAA Minnesota/Iowa. “I hope the Minnesota House of Representatives will realize its mistake and correct it by amending the language back into the bill on the House floor. I know the overwhelming majority of our Club’s 600,000 Minnesota members would appreciate that action.”