Section 305.27. Restraining devices and seats.

 

(1)  All automobiles manufactured on or after January 1, 1972, shall have safety belts installed at all designated seating positions which meet the specifications of the safety belt system with which the vehicle was originally manufactured. All light trucks and motor homes manufactured after January 1, 1976, shall have safety belts installed at all designated seating positions which meet the specifications of the safety belt system with which the vehicle was originally manufactured. All homemade and reconstructed motor vehicles registered on or after January 1, 1975, shall have safety belts installed at all designated seating positions.

(2)  All automobiles manufactured after January 1, 1969, and all light trucks and motor homes manufactured after September 1, 1991, shall be equipped with head restraints meeting the specifications of the head restraints with which the vehicle was originally manufactured. All homemade and reconstructed vehicles registered after January 1, 1975, shall be equipped with head restraints for the left and right front seating positions which meet the specifications of head restraints installed in vehicles manufactured in the year in which the homemade or reconstructed vehicle is first registered.

(3)  

(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , the restraining devices, including air bags, of every motor vehicle shall be maintained in proper working condition and in conformity with this section and s. 347.48 , Stats. All required and optional restraining devices, including air bags, shall remain installed or be replaced by like equipment. All air bags that have been deployed shall be replaced with a comparable functioning air bag system.

(b) Front passenger side and driver side airbags may be deactivated by use of a manual cutoff switch installed in accordance with federal law or by any other means expressly permitted by federal law or when deactivation has been approved in writing by the United States department of transportation. Front passenger side airbags may be deactivated through use of a rear-facing child restraint system which automatically deactivates the airbag for the period of time in which the child seat is placed in the front passenger seat.

(4)  All safety belts shall be free of excessive fraying and be securely mounted to the motor vehicle.

(5)  The seat and seat mechanisms of every motor vehicle shall be in proper working condition. All seats shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482 , eff. 3-1-96; renum. (3) to be (3) (a) and am., cr. (3) (b), Register, October, 1997, No. 502 , eff. 11-1-97; am. (3) (a), Register, April, 1999, No. 520 , eff. 5-1-99.

Note

For regulations relating to deactivation of front passenger side or driver side airbags, see 49 CFR Part 571.208 and 49 CFR Part 595 . Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1