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.

 

[Stoat]

I'm sorry if I seem to be in a bad mood....I probably am. AGAIN this year, as last year and the year before, I walked around my neighborhood and there were exactly TWO homes flying the American Flag, in addition to the one at the stoat cave, of course. I walked for six blocks in one direction and took a different route back. TWO houses. And this is MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

I have seen only 3 flags in my neighborhood and one of those is mine. It is disheartening to say the least.
 

So often I feel as though I am an alien being who just dropped in via flying saucer, and am trying to make sense of these strange creatures who live here....and this is the city where I was BORN.

"sigh"

I'm sorry if I seem to be in a bad mood....I probably am. AGAIN this year, as last year and the year before, I walked around my neighborhood and there were exactly TWO homes flying the American Flag, in addition to the one at the stoat cave, of course. I walked for six blocks in one direction and took a different route back. TWO houses. And this is MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

I have seen only 3 flags in my neighborhood and one of those is mine. It is disheartening to say the least.
 

So often I feel as though I am an alien being who just dropped in via flying saucer, and am trying to make sense of these strange creatures who live here....and this is the city where I was BORN.

"sigh"

[Stoat]

washington / olympia sucks

 

Kitty knows it.  :-)

[dragnet2]

Not a problem. I built my own, 27 feet tall, with a 4x6 on top that flies 365 days per year.

I was being facetious about the doggy seat.

[Vicki]

I woke up this morning and thought what about the elderly who shrink in height and lose weight. Are they going to have to ride in booster seats? I would guess so. I hope medicare will cover this expense for them. Sure glad I am so tall that I will surely never shrink to 4’ 9”.

[cmsgop]

LOL!!!!!!

[Scotsman will be Free]

That’s because they want to shoehorn all of you folks on the coast into “mass transit”. That would alleviate rush hour(s) traffic jams, don’tcha know? One of the things that I noticed after working I-5 for 10 years was that on govt holidays that private enterprise ignored, traffic was considerably lighter, indicating to me that govt workers are the main cause of traffic congestion, at least in King and Pierce counties.

[4woodenboats]

Agreed. I spent a couple years commuting from the Key Peninsula to Lake Union, then 3 years to Redmond. A 2 1/2 - 3hr commute would be cut in half. Heck, just getting across the Narrows bridge would be cut in half.

Now, a huge chunk of my work day is at my shop at/in Home, and I can take my dog swimming around the corner during breaks.

I'd throw it all away for a good union contract though ( /dripping sarcasm & LOL )

[Scotsman will be Free]

You anarchist, you. I know all about the history of Home. LOL.
The Narrows bridge. Don’t get me started.

[4woodenboats]

The monument to the “radicals” is a block and 1/2 away from me, but these days the radicals taking over the place are Conservative Christians...well, at least one so far... ;~)

[Truth08]

The following is from the Washington State Booster Seat Coalition web page and it clearly states that after 8 years of age you do NOT need a booster.

KEY PROVISIONS of Washington’s Child Restraint law:

. Children under 13 years old be transported in the back seat where it is practical to do so.

. Children up to their 8th birthday, unless they are 4’9” tall (which ever comes first), must ride in a child restraint. (For example a child car seat, booster seat, vest, or other restraint that is federally approved for use in the car.)

. The restraint system must be used correctly according to the car seat AND vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.

. Vehicles equipped with lap-only seat belts are exempt from the requirement to use a booster seat.

. Children 8-years of age or at least 4’9” who wear a seat belt MUST use it correctly (never under the arm or behind the back) or continue to use a booster