Is It Legal to Ride in the Bed of a Truck in Montana?

Is It Legal to Ride in the Bed of a Truck in Montana?

Riding in the bed of a truck is a common sight in rural Montana, but is it legal? The short answer is yes, it is legal to ride in the bed of a truck in Montana as long as certain conditions are met.

According to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) § 61-9-410, any person riding in the bed of a pickup truck must be seated on the floor or on a seat that is securely attached to the vehicle. The seat must also be able to support the weight of the rider and must be equipped with adequate handrails or other safety devices.

In addition, no more than three people are allowed to ride in the bed of a pickup truck at one time and all passengers must wear approved protective headgear such as helmets or hard hats. Furthermore, no passengers are allowed to ride in the back of an open-bed truck unless it has been equipped with suitable side guards.

It should also be noted that all children under 18 years old must be seated either in an appropriate child safety seat or wearing a safety belt at all times while riding in the bed of a pickup truck. Additionally, if your vehicle has been modified so that there is less than 18 inches between the top surface of any part of your vehicle and any part of your passenger’s body, then no passengers may ride in the back of your pickup truck under any circumstances.

Finally, riding in an uncovered pick-up truck bed is prohibited at all times when traveling on an interstate highway or on other designated highways and roadways where speed limits exceed 45 mph (72 km/h).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, it is legal to ride in the bed of a pick-up truck in Montana provided certain conditions are met such as being securely seated on floor or seat with adequate handrails; wearing approved protective headgear; limiting number of riders; ensuring children under 18 wear safety belts; and not riding on highways exceeding 45 mph speed limit without appropriate side guards.

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Karen Watkins