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.

 

[null and void]

Their calves look huge as well.

At least they aren't purple.

[I never saw a purple calf...]

[NavyCanDo]

How did we ever survive the 60’s when 5 of us kids would cram into the back of our station wagon? We didn’t even have seat belts, until my dad bought a new car in 1968.

Thankfully my 5-year old son is the tallest in his class, and should not have to be embarrassed by this stupid law.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

The stupidification of America is quite evident on FR as the reading comprehension expressed here with some folks is atrocious.

[Bigh4u2]

“A nine-year-old passes the test for being out of the booster seat since he/she is older than eight.”

Then why are both of these girls in booster seats?

“Daughters Lexi, 8, and Karly, 10,”

And, if you read the law, as interpreted by this reporter, 8 years old should be the cutoff age. Not 9.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

As a stalker I should know if she's 4'9" or 4'11" - I've read both - but this may mean America's Sweetheart will be uncomfy when in Washington.

[proudpapa]

Can they take their helmets off when their 10 or has that been changed to 13?

[EternalVigilance]

More proof that liberalism is a mental disease.

Sure hope we can find the cure before it kills us all...

[apillar]

West Virginia passed a law similar to this a couple years back, it was tacked on to a bill in the final hours of the legislative session and nobody even new about it until it was about to go into affect. According to a police friend of mine it is still almost universally ignored two years later and the police only give warnings for it when they pull somebody over for an other offense.

As for me, I had a 6 and 8 year old at the time and absolutely refused to subject them to the indignity of going back in a booster (or the indignity to my wallet of purchasing them). Well I've never been pulled over in the last two years and my youngest just turned 8 on May 8th so I guess I'm no longer an "outlaw".

[keepitreal]

But do kids ever sit up straight in the car? Mine do the same thing, lean on the arm rest, usually toward the center so that they can bug each other as much as possible.

[KoRn]

By the time the lawyers, insurance companies, and big government are done with us, even adults will be required to ride in booster seats.

[ElkGroveDan]

The car seat requirement is the single biggest reason for the popularity of SUVs and other large vehicles. How many of these things can you get in the back seat of a Prius?

Now families in Washington will be driving their SUVs longer. As we know its the older cars that give off the worst emissions.

Congratulations liberals. You’ve done it to yourselves again.

[trisham]

Heh. I was 5’6’’ and 95 pounds at 13.

[Bigh4u2]

“Doesn’t that mean once they hit 9 years old the law doesn’t apply to them.”

Actually, if interpreted correctly, they should be out by 8 years old.

“Until they are 8 years old”, to me means when they turn 8, no more booster seat.

[ShadowAce]

Then why are both of these girls in booster seats?

That's why I was questioning this article. It seems wrong on several fronts, thus making the author look stupid.

However, if the author merely mis-quoted the law (saying "or" instead of "and"), then I can understand a simple error. However that error is serious enough that it calls into question this article.

[Bigh4u2]

“However that error is serious enough that it calls into question this article.”

You’re right.

And it would also give parents and ‘out’ if they are ever ticketed for not having a child under the height of 4’9” in a booster.

Still a stupid law though.

[visualops]

Guffaw!!

[AnAmericanMother]

Only answer to that is to put them in a 5 point aviation harness.

When I was a teenager - back before any seat belts were required by law - my dad was (justifiably) concerned about me and the '62 Studebaker convertible (with the police pursuit engine with Holley 4bbl). So he installed a roll bar and hooked up two aerobatic harnesses to the roll bar and the floor frame (he was a pilot from age 13 until he hung up his helmet and goggles at age 79 - now 82).

I thought it looked rather cool than otherwise (I had just soloed at 16) and was able to carry it off despite some incredulity on the part of my friends. The fact that I could lay 20 feet of rubber in all three gears helped . . .

[CPT Clay]

Nanny govt at its finest.

Imagine how differant it would be had Dino not allowed he election to be stolen.

[Nextrush]

Stop the insanity of these laws. Let people be free.

Someone said it was the car seat industry, but consider this.

What if there’s research out there that insurance companies buy saying these seats will reduce injuries (as in insurance claims)?

The insurance people lobby the politicians hence the “safety” legislation.

[Jane Austen]

This is getting ridiculous.