Massachusetts child safety law clarification?

[porenn]

I'm a bit confused-

I have a 2.5 year old who is still a bit small for her age (27 pounds). She still rear faces in our Truefit in the back of my car.

My husband drives a 1991 Toyota pick up with no back seat, and no air bag. He will have to drive her around for a few days while my car has some work done.

Mass law says that all children under the age of 12 must ride in the back seat- I can't seem to find any exceptions....

While this is not the safest situation, nor anywhere near an ideal one, does anyone know if this is actually illegal?

[HollyBearsMom]

Hi-

I live in Mass and believe that it is the law, no exceptions, however I don't know for sure. I would call your local police dept. Most have a someone on staff who is a certified car seat tech (sometimes an officer but not always) and they are up on all the latest laws. They can tell you the specifics so you aren't surprised/ticketed. Let us know what you find out, be interesting to know!

[surrogate]

as far as I know there is always an exception for pickups with no back seats

[MacKinnon]

I'm not in Mass. but we just had a kids in the back law passed, and it is that children 4 and under must be in the back seat if one is available.  I'm not finding any text to indicate a back seat component of your law. I did find this reference. Which appears to explain that the law basically says kids 12 and under SHOULD be in the back, but not that they HAVE to be in the back.