§ 21-1121. Children in rear of pickup trucks

   (a) Applicability of section. -- This section applies only to a Class E (truck) vehicle registered or of a type capable of being registered in this State as a Class E (truck) vehicle with a manufacturer's rated capacity of 3/4 ton or less, the gross vehicle weight of which does not exceed 7,000 pounds.

(b) Exceptions; construction of sentence. --

   (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section does not apply to:

      (i) A vehicle traveling at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; or

      (ii) The transportation of:

         1. An employee to or from a work site by the employer of the employee; or

         2. An individual in a vehicle engaged in farming operations.

   (2) This subsection may not be construed as to eliminate applicable child safety seat and seat belt requirements under § 22-412.2 and 22-412.3 of this article.

(c) Prohibited acts. -- An individual may not drive a Class E (truck) vehicle on a highway in the State while a passenger under the age of 16 years is riding in an unenclosed bed of the vehicle.

HISTORY: 1996, ch. 462.