New Law to Give MI Kids a Safety Boost
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June 30, 2008
Lansing, MI – It's a tragic fact that car and truck crashes are the leading cause of death for children. Now the state is hoping improved restraint systems can help make them safer. Tomorrow, police throughout Michigan begin enforcing stricter laws to do that.
Jeff Spitzley, with Safe Kids Michigan, wants to get the word out on the new regulations for kids riding in cars and trucks.
"This new law will require children, until they are either the age of eight or the height of 4'9", to be in a child restraint -- either a car seat or a booster seat."
Spitzley encourages parents to make sure they have the correct restraints or seats for their kids, and to know how to use them properly. He says that's especially important for the seats called convertible seats, used for children through about age four.
"Typically, parents are not strapping that car seat tightly enough onto the vehicle seat with the vehicle seat belt. And the harness straps are not snug enough on the child."
Reportedly, law enforcement departments will allow a period of education following tomorrow's law change to help encourage more parents to make their kids safer. However, when police decide a citation is in order, it won't be cheap. Violations could cost from $65 to $165 for each unrestrained child in a vehicle.
More information is available online at www.michigansafekids.org.