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New Car Seat Law (SB61) to take effect September 1st 2009 (8 yrs old and under)

By Cheri Smith

Real Estate Agent with Prudential Gary Greene, Cypress TX

August 20, 2009 10:16 AM

There's a new law taking effect September 1st that we parents all need to be aware of.

It's SB 61 and it amends the existing statute regarding child passenger safety seats.

The bill requires that any child younger than 8 years of age be restrained in an approved child passenger safety seat unless the child is at least 4'9" in height.

The fine is no more than $25 for a first offense and $250 for a second offense. The law also creates a new court cost for conviction of an offense under this section to be collected and used by TxDOT to buy safety seats for low income families. The law becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2009, but tickets for this offense cannot be issued until June 1, 2010. Police officers are allowed to issue a warning before that date.

I'm all for laws that save children's lives. I have a pretty tall 7 year old but she's not 4'9" so we are back to a booster seat and she's not happy about it!

I'll be buying mine this weekend to make sure they don't run out. I have no desire to even get pulled over for a warning.

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Carl Winters

Canyon Lake, TX

Cheri I'll be sure to tell my daughter-in-law they have a six year old and is not very tall. I haven't heard her say anything about it; infact your blog is the first I've heard. Thanks for the info. Ceil

Aug 20, 2009 02:09 PM

Donna Harris

Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX

Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Personally, I feel this is ridiculous because how are parents supposed to carpool their kids to and from school, soccer practice, or any other activities?

And I got your email, thanks for letting me know... it's been a crazy week!

Aug 20, 2009 02:52 PM

Cheri Smith

Prudential Gary Greene, Cypress TX - Cypress, TX

Realtor Prudential Gary Greene

Well, I'm not happy about having to put a kid in a booster seat that doesn't want to be in one but I can't afford to break the law so I will go along with it. Some kids I've seen should have been in a car seat/booster seat and weren't and I don't think this law will change that. What I do think is that they've found a way to make us pay for car seats for low income people and little else.

Aug 20, 2009 03:45 PM

Richard Weeks

Dallas, TX

REALTOR®, Broker

Cheri,

Yet another example of state legislatures going to an extreme.

Aug 20, 2009 10:19 PM

It keeps the car/booster seat companies in business. With big companies hurting, it puts money back in their pockets!

Aug 21, 2009 02:21 PM

Well get this, I went and bought the $16 booster seat at Walmart yesterday. I put it together (put the covers on) and put my daughter on it, etc etc. Then I am looking at the manual and it says that if 50% or more of your child's head is above the seat or headrest while sitting on this thing, then it's dangerous and you should not use it.

Well, yes, more than 50% of her head is above the head rest now. While she is not 4'9" yet, we all have long upper torsos and short legs and this already made her sit higher in the seat than the average 7 year old. So now I am not sure what to do about it except call the car seat company and ask their opinion.

Aug 22, 2009 06:19 AM

New Car Seat Law (SB61) to take effect September 1st 2009 (8 yrs old and under)

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Cheri Smith

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