Badgerland
02-11-2006, 12:04 AM
New law just passed yesterday. Basically kids under 8 must be in a booster seat unless they weigh more than 80 pounds. There are also other weight restrictions added. Here's the rundown on the changes.
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Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with certain exceptions, no child under the age of four years may be transported in a motor vehicle unless that child is properly restrained in a child safety restraint system (child safety seat), and no child between the ages of four and eight years may be transported in a motor vehicle unless that child is properly restrained in a child safety seat or by a safety belt (seat belt). A person who fails to comply with the child safety seat requirement, applicable to violations involving children under age four, is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $30 nor more than $75, but no forfeiture may be assessed if the vehicle was not equipped with a child safety seat at the time of the violation and the person provides proof that, within 30 days after the violation, a child safety seat was purchased or leased and properly installed in the vehicle. A person who fails to comply with the seat belt requirement, applicable to violations involving children between the ages of four and eight, is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $10 nor more than $25 for a first violation or, for a second or subsequent violation within three years, a forfeiture of not less than $25 nor more than $200. A person who fails to comply with the child safety seat requirement will also incur additional fees, costs, and surcharges, but a person who fails to comply with the seat belt requirement will not.
This bill creates a tiered structure, according to age and size, of restraint requirements for transporting children under the age of eight in a motor vehicle.
Under this bill, a child who is:
1. Less than one year old or who weighs less than 20 pounds must be properly
restrained in a rear−facing child safety seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.
2. At least one year old and weighs at least 20 pounds but is less than four years old or weighs less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a forward−facing child safety seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.
3. At least four years old but less than eight years old, weighs between 40 and 80 pounds, and is no more than four feet nine inches tall must be properly restrained in a child booster seat positioned according to the child seating requirements described below.
4. Under the age of eight and exceeds the weight or height limits specified in
Item 3., above, must be properly restrained by a seat belt (as under current law). If a child, because of age, weight, or height, falls into more than one of these categories, the child must be transported according to the requirements of the more protective category. This bill prohibits a person from transporting a child under the age of eight in a motor vehicle unless the child is properly restrained as described above and the restraint system meets the standards established by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and is appropriate to the child
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Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with certain exceptions, no child under the age of four years may be transported in a motor vehicle unless that child is properly restrained in a child safety restraint system (child safety seat), and no child between the ages of four and eight years may be transported in a motor vehicle unless that child is properly restrained in a child safety seat or by a safety belt (seat belt). A person who fails to comply with the child safety seat requirement, applicable to violations involving children under age four, is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $30 nor more than $75, but no forfeiture may be assessed if the vehicle was not equipped with a child safety seat at the time of the violation and the person provides proof that, within 30 days after the violation, a child safety seat was purchased or leased and properly installed in the vehicle. A person who fails to comply with the seat belt requirement, applicable to violations involving children between the ages of four and eight, is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $10 nor more than $25 for a first violation or, for a second or subsequent violation within three years, a forfeiture of not less than $25 nor more than $200. A person who fails to comply with the child safety seat requirement will also incur additional fees, costs, and surcharges, but a person who fails to comply with the seat belt requirement will not.
This bill creates a tiered structure, according to age and size, of restraint requirements for transporting children under the age of eight in a motor vehicle.
Under this bill, a child who is:
1. Less than one year old or who weighs less than 20 pounds must be properly
restrained in a rear−facing child safety seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.
2. At least one year old and weighs at least 20 pounds but is less than four years old or weighs less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a forward−facing child safety seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.
3. At least four years old but less than eight years old, weighs between 40 and 80 pounds, and is no more than four feet nine inches tall must be properly restrained in a child booster seat positioned according to the child seating requirements described below.
4. Under the age of eight and exceeds the weight or height limits specified in
Item 3., above, must be properly restrained by a seat belt (as under current law). If a child, because of age, weight, or height, falls into more than one of these categories, the child must be transported according to the requirements of the more protective category. This bill prohibits a person from transporting a child under the age of eight in a motor vehicle unless the child is properly restrained as described above and the restraint system meets the standards established by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and is appropriate to the child