Camy Woods, 6, left, and Joey Korger, 7, help show the features of booster seats. A new law requires that children use booster seats until the age of 8. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr)

New Law Requires Kids Up to Age 8 to Ride in Booster Seats

A new bill passed by the Wisconsin Senate on February 3 requires that children ride in booster seats in all vehicles until the age of eight.   The Senate approved the bill 23-10.   The State Assembly passed the bill in December.   It now goes to Governor Jim Doyle for his signature.   He is expected to sign it into law.

Lawmakers who oppose the bill say it would be too hard to enforce. They say parents who carpool would have to have enough booster seats for every child who rides in their cars.   The current law requires that children ride in safety seats until age four and then use a seat belt.   

New standards keep children safer

Supporters say the new standard keeps children safer.   Seat belts designed for adult use can seriously hurt children because of where the belt straps fall on their smaller bodies.

Booster seats place the seatbelt in the right places on the lap and across the shoulder.

Some children are tall and heavy enough not to need the booster seats.   Children under age eight who are taller than 4 ft. 9 inches or over 80 pounds do not have to use the seats.   They can just use the vehicle's seat belts.   It is not clear how the police will determine a child's weight when they stop drivers on the road.

“We are not going to stop every car and interrogate parents about the age and weight of the child in the car,” says Oconomowoc police officer Lt. Parr.   However, parents can face fines between $35 and $75 for not putting their children in safety seats or seat belts. The fine might be forgiven if drivers show proof that they purchased a booster seat.

Car crashes are number 1 killer of kids

Car crashes are the number one killer of children in Wisconsin and across the nation.   Advocates think that this law will save lives.   More than 30 states have adopted similar laws.    

Others view the law as an inconvenience, especially for families who rely on car-pooling to get their kids to school and activities. They ask what they should do if they do not have enough car seats for all the children they have to drive home.   They also wonder how they will get older children to use the seats again.

“I cannot see putting my seven year old back into a car seat,” says Sara Collins of New Berlin.   “He hasn't sat in a car seat since I sold his seat two years ago.”

Many families already have car seats that can change over to booster seats for kids up to 80 pounds.   New booster seats cost between $15 and $120. Drivers can find booster seats at discount stores like K-Mart and at garage sales.

The State is also planning to help families who cannot afford to buy the car seats.   The new law allows Wisconsin to apply for Department of Transportation money that will help families in need get the seats at little or no cost.

Source:   Journal Sentinel article by Stacy Forster