Saturday, August 29, 2009

New Car Seat Law in Texas

SB 61 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 feet, 9 inches 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 would just like to put all police officers on notice in my area that you may ticket me anytime. I may be the worst mother on the planet but my sons weigh more than their 11 year old sister, and sit more securely in their seats than her tiny little frame, and there is no way I'm putting them in any type of booster seat. I can no longer find shoes that fit Nathan, but you expect to have a car seat that's comfortable for him. 8 years?? 57 inches, are you kidding me! I don't think my 11 year old is 57 inches! They can ride roller coasters at Six Flags but have to have a booster seat in my vehicle. Garbage. Nope. God's just going to have to provide protection for them, and I better get my emergency fund increased to pay for all the tickets I'm about to start getting on June 1, 2010...

3 comments:

Ash said...

I looked up our law here and it's 6 yrs. 60 lbs. I'm with you on the TX one.

Mimi Martin said...

My friend just told me you are one of the most level-headed people she knows. She's right of course. I can see the boys next summer - sitting on phone books, heading to Six Flags.

Linda "Grammy" Woods said...

When i posted the new law to FB ... I had multiple people let me know their states had had that law for years.