House Bill No. 1973
83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004) Posted on Feb 9, 2004

1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting leaving a
1.3 child under the age of nine unattended in a passenger
1.4 vehicle; imposing petty misdemeanor penalty; proposing
1.5 coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169.
1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [169.355] [LEAVING UNATTENDED CHILD IN
1.8 PASSENGER VEHICLE.]
1.9 Subdivision 1. [REQUIREMENT OF SUPERVISION OF CHILD UNDER
1.10 NINE YEARS OF AGE.] A person shall not leave a child who is
1.11 younger than nine years of age in a passenger vehicle without
1.12 supervision in the vehicle by a person who is at least 14 years
1.13 of age if:
1.14 (1) the conditions present a risk to the child's health or
1.15 safety; or
1.16 (2) the engine of the passenger vehicle is running, or the
1.17 keys to the vehicle are located in the passenger compartment of
1.18 the vehicle.
1.19 Subd. 2. [PENALTY.] Violation of this section is a petty
1.20 misdemeanor. The violator is subject to a fine of not less than
1.21 $150 for a first offense and not less than $300 for a subsequent
1.22 offense.
1.23 Subd. 3. [PROSECUTION FOR OTHER VIOLATIONS.] Prosecution
1.24 under this section does not preclude prosecution under any other
1.25 section of law.