SF669

Purpose

• To repeal the seat belt use gag rule by eliminating the prohibition on admitting evidence about seat belt use or non-use in civil cases arising from motor vehicle incidents.

Main Provisions

• Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 169.685 subdivision 4.
• Removes the rule that evidence of whether a seat belt or child passenger restraint system was used or not used, or the installation or failure of installation, is not admissible in lawsuits involving injuries or property damage from motor vehicle operation.
• Keeps other parts of the statute, such as references to seat belts and child restraints, unchanged aside from removing this specific prohibition.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• In civil litigation related to motor vehicle injuries or property damage, evidence about seat belt use, non-use, or related installations can now be considered under standard evidentiary rules (no longer blocked by a specific statutory gag).
• The narrow exception that permitted or restricted such evidence in certain defect-related actions is removed, making the prior restriction entirely repealed and leaving the rest of the law as governed by general evidence rules.

How the Change Works (in plain terms)

• Before: There was a law that said judges could not admit evidence about whether a seat belt was used in certain injury cases.
• After: That specific prohibition is removed, so such evidence can be evaluated like other evidence under normal court rules.

Relevant Terms - seat belt - passenger restraint system for children - admissibility into evidence - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 169.685 subdivision 4 - section 169.685 - gag rule - litigation - personal injuries - property damage - motor vehicle - defectively designed - manufactured - installed - operating