Washington State: Kids could be stuck in booster seats until 16

The Everett Herald ^ | May 11, 2007 | Scott Pesznecker and Melissa Slager

[Stoat]

Thousands of Washington children will be forced back into car and booster seats next month when a change to state law takes effect.

On June 1, children will have to stay in the safety seats until they are at least 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Violators face a $112 ticket.

About half of all children between 6 to 8 years old will be affected by the change, according to safety advocates.

"It's going to be a big challenge for those kids who have been out of the booster seat to get back," said Shawneri Guzman of Snohomish County SAFE KIDS, a nonprofit group that works to prevent childhood injuries.

The change means parents such as Renee Shonko, 44, of Lake Stevens must break the news to their children.

Daughters Lexi, 8, and Karly, 10, aren't exactly thrilled to be going back into booster seats.

"I don't like it," said Karly, who at 4-foot-8 (with shoes on) is taller than most of her classmates. But that's not tall enough for a seat belt to fit her properly.

Currently, children are required to ride in booster seats until they're 6 years old or weigh 60 pounds.

The changes also require children to use booster seats until they are 16 years old if a vehicle's seat belt does not properly fit the child.

Another change requires children younger than 13 to ride in the back seat whenever possible. They're allowed to ride in the front only if the vehicle has no lap-and-shoulder belts in the back seat.

 

[ApplegateRanch]

(((4))) (5) This section does not apply to: (a) For hire vehicles, (b) vehicles designed to transport sixteen or less passengers, including the driver, operated by auto transportation companies, as defined in RCW 81.68.010, (c) vehicles providing customer shuttle service between parking, convention, and hotel facilities, and airport terminals, and (d) school buses.

[Sue Perkick]

No

No

No

No

[the OlLine Rebel]

Despite the way they are depicted in movies and TV, where they’re always shorter even than Mom, teenagers and indeed, “pre-teens” are often full height they are ever going to be (especially girls).

[the OlLine Rebel]

Figures.

Always it’s individuals who have to get screwed.

So much for the “SAFETY” reasoning.

It’s a MONEY-MAKER, for the government AND the companies that make this garbage.

[Stoat]

(((4))) (5) This section does not apply to: (a) For hire vehicles, (b) vehicles designed to transport sixteen or less passengers, including the driver, operated by auto transportation companies, as defined in RCW 81.68.010, (c) vehicles providing customer shuttle service between parking, convention, and hotel facilities, and airport terminals, and (d) school buses.

I appreciate the clarification, thank you very much.  I suspected as much....that they would exempt everyone except families.

The stoatmobile is bigger than the typical fullsize van; it is a one-ton E-350 Super Duty behemoth that is far larger (and safer) than taxicabs and many airport shuttle buses.

Under this law, I will be forced to decline my friends' and neighbors' requests for  assistance when they need to be picked up from the airport or if their own cars are being serviced.  I will have to refer them to a FAR LESS SAFE taxicab or airport shuttle bus.

[HungarianGypsy]

My ‘73 Suburban was 12 mpg (listed as SW on the title). My Ford Explorer gets 23 mpg. Same as the Lincoln Mark VII we once had.

[JmyBryan]

Yep - No question helmets would decrease injuries.

Shows that they aren’t really interested in conflict with adults - but they can get through with child safety because a majority of women will capitulate to any authority as long as that authority is claimed to protect children.

Hard to argue with those mommies. Wonder how they made it when about a quarter of the children they conceived were dead by the age of 2.

[gura]

No kidding, when does this stuff stop?

But officer, we’re on our way to replace all of our incandescent bulbs with CFL’s because now we’re breaking THAT law!

[4woodenboats]

Did the last two times you were banished result from similar arbitray harrassment of members?

I suggest you put the shovel down now, the hole is deep enough.

[4woodenboats]

No, I don't think the shuttle would be affected, nor, ironically, would any sort of state monarchy sponsored mass transit, from a school bus on up to a monorail.

This is just another example of laws imposed on private citizens that the monarchy claims exempt from.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[go-dubya-04]

Man, I was still 4’9” in 9th grade (I’m a guy, BTW, and fortunately had quite a growth spurt in HS and got up to 6’) and if you think I would be caught in a booster seat, you are nuts. What a bunch of Nanny State Nazis; trying to control every aspect of our lives. These were the little twerps who got beat up all through grade school and high scholl and this is how they are exacting their revenge on us.

[Stoat]

No, I don't think the shuttle would be affected, nor, ironically, would any sort of state monarchy sponsored mass transit, from a school bus on up to a monorail.

This is just another example of laws imposed on private citizens that the monarchy claims exempt from.

Agreed.  Please see the excellent and helpful post from ApplegateRanch at #161 as well as my response at #165.

Despite the HUGE, turbo-diesel powered stoatmobile being bigger, heavier and safer than any taxicab and most shuttle vans, I will be prevented by law from providing a safe and cost-saving traveling environment for friends and neighbors, and will be forced into having them take an expensive and comparatively less-safe taxi or commercial van.

Laws like this will primarily serve to decrease the public's respect for and compliance with other, more reasonable laws (in addition to this one)..

 

No, I don't think the shuttle would be affected, nor, ironically, would any sort of state monarchy sponsored mass transit, from a school bus on up to a monorail.

This is just another example of laws imposed on private citizens that the monarchy claims exempt from.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

LOL!! The Dwarf.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

HOT!!

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Very sad, but very true.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Shhhhh.....not so loud...8^D

[Paperdoll]

What will they come up with next in Commie Washington State? Breast feed until 20?

[wideminded]

Its all the fault of that Vast Evil Booster Seat Manufacturers Lobby!!

Maybe so. Some of these types of laws result at least partially from lobbying by manufacturers.

BTW, have you tried to buy a gas can lately? It seems like you can only find one brand and all their products are terrible. Apparently this results from a law that says gas cans must have spill-proof spouts.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Well hello fellow traveler! Nice to see a man of good taste.