Posted on 06/16/2005 10:28:10 AM PDT by Disambiguator
Your children are cute, but if they're not buckled in correctly, they're going to cost you a ticket.
Albuquerque police and law enforcement officers around the state say parents of children ages 5 and up are going to be scrutinized more than ever when a new law on child safety seats goes into effect Friday.
The current law requires safety restraints for children through age 4 or less than 40 pounds. The new law says children ages 5 or 6 or less than 60 pounds must be protected.
Children 7 through 12 also require safety restraints - either a child safety seat if they weigh less than 60 pounds or seat belts.
All seats must meet federal standards.
"A properly secured seat belt fits over thighs, not the abdomen, with knees bent over the seat edge," said Jeannie Chavez, spokeswoman for AAA New Mexico. "A seat belt should go over heaviest part of the bone structure, the shoulder bone, chest bone and over the hip portion of the upper thighs."
The law was proposed by AAA New Mexico and Safer New Mexico Now and passed during the 2005 legislative session.
"Nine out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly," said Lisa Kelloff, president of Safer New Mexico Now.
Safer New Mexico Now opened five fitting stations statewide last year and is looking to add three this year, she said.
Each station provides proper installation of child safety seats by trained technicians and information on proper use, she said.
"Stations are at permanent locations on a specific day of the month every month at a specific time," Kelloff said. "People should come in with the car and seat, and the child as well."
Fittings at the stations are by appointment only.
The organization also has car seat distribution programs for low-income families in 30 locations around the state.
Albuquerque police spokeswoman Sgt. Beth Paiz said officers will begin enforcing the new law right away.
"There will be no grace period," she said.
Children who move around the back seat, whose heads pop up or who lean over to get something from the front seat are easy to spot, Paiz said. That would constitute probable cause for a traffic stop.
If the child is not in a safety restraint, the driver will be cited, she said.
The fine is $84, Kelloff said, and two points against the driver's license.
However, judges have the discretion to require the offender to take part in a violator education program by Safer New Mexico Now. That would waive the two points, Kelloff said.
/sarc
My point exactly. I'm glad someone finally got it. You nailed it. Anytime someone gets a hangnail, the first thing the gov does is make some kneejerk law to instill on the rest of us like we are children.
Hey, don't make me feel bad. We managed to get 10 pounds on him in the last three or four months. : )
(My kids are all very small. My 2 year old is only 22 pounds, but perfectly healthy.)
I have always dreamed about getting one of those sliding windows they have in limos put into my minivan. All four fighting at once? Roll up the window and proceed with concentration undamaged. Heeheehee
My 18 month daughter is 28lbs, she's also the size of most 2 year olds. She's been in the 96%+ all her short life. Now her old man, me, I'm a big guy: 5'10", 205lbs, waist 33-34 (depending how much beer I've drunk for the day). I work out 3 times a week and yard work 1 more and according to the government I'm obese. :0) But I was a scrawny little guy till around age 25.
If you invent it, I'll buy one (15-passenger van size!).
I'm short too (5'9", 159 lbs) I was always one of the smallest in school, and got teased for it a lot.
"I don't know how previous generations survived without nanny laws dictating safety gear for kids in cars..Does any evidence show that children are safer today with overprotective seatbelts than before???"
Our poor, benighted ancestors lived in ignorant darkness without the benevolent hand of a bloated government to guide them. How lucky we are.
Just more laws to help subsidize the child seat manufacturers.
These same people end up whining about those who have SUVs instead of smaller vehicles. Part of it is trying to make room for all the car seats.
My husband heard on the radio one morning a complaint from one of the announcers about mother's sending their children to school (walking) wearing helmets.
I have a 9 yr old who's 5'1" and 121 lbs, should I give him 2 big macs? *L*
My father-in-law wasn't wearing a seat belt with he turned over in a truck he was driving. That was actually what saved his life.
My kids don't have the right to go buy a rifle, but I have the right to get one for them, and take them to the range to use it under my supervision. This law takes away parents freedom to decide how best to buckle up their kids, and is primarily a new revenue source for traffic cops
They protect us from that evil marijuana.
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