Oaklahoma Residents
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive April 2004:
Oaklahoma Residents
Henry signs bill requiring booster, car seats
2004-03-31
By The Associated Press
Children ages 5 and younger must sit in a booster or car seat under a
bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Brad Henry.
The new law, which takes effect immediately, requires all children up
to age 6 be placed in a "child passenger restraint system" that meets
federal guidelines. Current law applies only to children 3 and
younger or less than 60 pounds. The bill also removes the weight
exemption from statute.
"We're really thrilled to hear the governor signed the bill," said
Martha Collar, the coordinator of the Oklahoma SAFE KIDS
Coalition. "We think it will go a long way toward protecting young
passengers in Oklahoma."
Collar said both the Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration recommend booster seats for children up
to age 8. A compromise was made to apply the bill to children ages 5
and younger since similar measures failed to pass the Legislature in
recent years, Collar said.
"Seat belts were just never made for young children," Collar
said. "They were basically designed to protect people who are at
least 4-foot-9 and 89 pounds."
The provisions of the bill do not apply to school buses, taxicabs,
emergency vehicles or vehicles in which all the seat belts are in
use. A new exemption was also added for children weighing more than
40 pounds who are traveling in vehicles not equipped with combination
lap and safety belts.
Violation of the new law is punishable by a maximum fine of $10. If a
violation is a first offense, the law requires the fine to be
suspended upon proof of acquisition of a child passenger restraint
system.
Maximum fine of ten dollars??? That's supposed to deter parents????
LOL, Kate! I had the same reaction.
Thats pretty good. I have a 5 year old that I still have in a car seat. I think she will be in one for sometime. she is on the tiny side. Her 3 year old brother is a few inches shorter than her. and wears the same size pants as her.
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