By Staff
LANSING – Beginning Tuesday a new Michigan law mandates that all children be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9" tall according to a state news release. Before the law was passed, that stipulation was only a recommendation. Now, children must be in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.
"This law is a real win for Michigan's children," Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski said in the release. "The combined use of booster seats and seat belts will save lives and decrease injuries."
The release also claims that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death of children and that in many cases these deaths could have been prevented by properly using a child passenger safety seat. When used correctly, child safety seats are 71 percent effective in reducing fatalities and 50 percent effective in preventing minor injuries.
"Research has shown that child safety seats do save lives," Office of Highway Safety Planning Director Michael L. Prince said. "These seats are designed to lift children up and make safety belts fit their smaller bodies better. We want all parents to recognize the importance of child safety seats and use them correctly and consistently."
This is a primary enforcement law so a police officer can stop a vehicle if the officer sees an improperly restrained child and issue a citation which could end up costing parents $65 to $165 in fines and fees for each unrestrained child in the vehicle.
"If we see a child that's not restrained," said Niles City Police Department Chief Ric Huff. "You're going to get stopped.
"Child safety is definitely a priority with this department," he added. "As well as, I think, all other departments."
Huff said that the police department tries to turn the dangerous situation into an educational one. And he said that sometimes, a child going unrestrained and the lack of a child safety seat or booster seat could be due to financial strain. Child seats have been donated to the police department, he said, so when someone is stopped – oftentimes they are taken back to the department and fitted with an appropriate seat. Huff said he'll have to see what they can do about the new booster seat law – and if they can get any of those donated to the department.
The legislation, which was introduced by Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, was signed by Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm on March 27.
For more information about child passenger safety seats and the new law, visit www.michigansafekids.org/.