A person commits an offense if
the person operates an open-bed pickup truck or an open
flatbed truck or draws an open flatbed trailer when
a child younger than 18 years of age is occupying the
bed of the truck or trailer. the fine is not less than
$25 or more than $200.
It
is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the person was:
- operating or towing the
vehicle in a parade or in an emergency;
- operating the vehicle to
transport farmworkers from one field to another
field on a farm-to-market road, ranch-to-market
road, or county road outside a municipality;
- operating the vehicle on
a beach;
- operating a vehicle that
is the only vehicle owned or operated by the members
of a household; or
- operating the vehicle in
a hayride permitted by the governing body of or
a law enforcement agency of each county or municipality
in which the hayride will occur.
Did you know:
- Children and teenagers account
for more than half of the deaths of passengers riding
in the bed of a truck.
- Most non-collision deaths
in a pickup truck bed are caused by swerving, braking
or rough roads.
- Children in covered pickup
beds are exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning from
exhaust.
Safety Tip: Child safety seats
must NOT be used in side facing jumpseats.