New Booster Seat Law Takes Effect July 1, 2008

IRONWOOD, MI - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - Yesterday, the Ironwood Public Safety Department (IPSD) Director Bob Erspamer provided the following information to the Chronicle. The new booster seat law takes effect on July 1, 2008.

Children must be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9" tall.

Children must be in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first. For example:

  • If your child is over 8 years old, but under 4'9" tall, the law does not apply.
  • If your child is under 8 years old, but over 4'9" tall, the law does not apply.

Remember: In both of these cases, your child may be safer in a booster seat but it is not required by law.

Types of booster seats

A booster is a seat that boosts a child up so that the seat belt fits properly. There are two types of booster seats, no-back and high-back.

  • A no-back booster can be used when the vehicle seat/head rest supports the child's head.
  • A high-back provides head and neck support and can be used on vehicle seats with or without head restraints.

ALL booster seats MUST be used with a lap/shoulder safety belt.

More information

Best practice is to keep your child in a car seat with a "5-point" harness until they are at least 40 lbs. before using a booster seat. Some car seats have higher forward-facing harness weight limits of 40-65 lbs. Some forward-facing seats also convert to a high-back booster.

Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions and choose a seat that is right for your child and fits in your vehicle.

Booster seats are readily available in many retail stores. A no-back booster costs about $15 and a high-back ranges from $20-$100 or more depending on the style.

http://www.michigansafekids.org/index.shtml

You can also contact the Ironwood Public Safety Department at (906) 932-1234.

About the Safe Kids Program

Safe Kids Worldwide is the first and only global organization dedicated solely to the prevention of accidental childhood injury - the number one killer of children ages 14 and under.

Most of these injuries are due to motor vehicle crashes, falls, fires, drowning, bicycle crashes, firearm discharges, sporting-related incidents and poisoning. The good news is that these injuries are preventable through increased use of safety equipment, environmental modification and behavior changes. It has been proven that injuries are not accidents. Injuries occur in patterns and risk factors can be identified. And, just as for chronic and infectious diseases, effective prevention strategies do exist. Since the creation of The National SAFE KIDS Campaign in 1988, the United States has witnessed a dramatic reduction in unintentional injury-related mortality.

Presently, there are 300 state and local Safe Kids coalitions in all 50 states. Many state coalitions, including Safe Kids Michigan with the Michigan Department of Community Health as its lead agency, have local chapters as part of their coalition membership.

The SAFE KIDS Campaign continues working to protect Michigan children from accidental injury.

Safe Kids Michigan is dedicated to preventing accidental childhood injury in Michigan and currently consists of the Michigan State Coalition, 23 local coalitions/chapters. The state coalition is responsible for: the development of new chapters; assisting in the implementation of community-based injury prevention programs; statewide dissemination of injury prevention information to children, parents and care givers, and organization of child passenger safety training programs.

Local coalitions/chapters conduct events and programs in cooperation with a variety of community partners including firefighters, educators, law enforcement personnel, public health workers, medical and emergency care providers, and neighborhood associations. Car seats, smoke alarms and bike helmets are just some of the safety devices that have been distributed to at risk families during safety events and programs across the state. Technical assistance on injury prevention issues is provided to SAFE KIDS members, public health staff and the general public.

The SAFE KIDS network is maintained and strengthened through quarterly meetings and an annual conference for chapter and coalition coordinators. Support for many of these activities is provided by grants from Safe Kids Worldwide, businesses, state and federal government, and charitable foundations.

For More Information About Michigan SAFE KIDS: Jeff Spitzley, Coordinator, Safe Kids Michigan Injury & Violence Prevention Section, Michigan Department of Community Health Washington Sq. Bldg, 8th Floor 109 W. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48913, Phone: (517) 335-8131, Fax: (517) 335-9669, or Email: spitzleyj2@michigan.gov