Child Safety Rules Change Friday
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
As of Friday, child passenger safety rules will change across Indiana.
State officials passed new laws, which are more expansive than those previously on the books. The grace period allowed people to learn about the law and prepare for the changes it entails.
"People should be aware of the new laws because they will be enforced beginning July 1," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine.
According to www.in.gov/cji/clickit, "Indiana state law requires that as of July 1, 2005, all children ride properly fastened by a child restraint, which can include a belt-positioning booster seat until their eighth birthday."
A child from birth to 1 year of age who weighs 20 pounds or less should be properly restrained in a rear-facing infant seat.
A rear/forward facing convertible seat may be suitable for a child after age 1 until age 2, or when he/she weighs 20 to 40 pounds.
Children more than 1 to 2 years old and weighing from 20 to 40 pounds also are considered properly restrained in a forward-only facing seat.
A belt-positioning booster seat should be used by children from 4 to 8 years old, who weigh 40 to 80 pounds.
Children between the ages of 8 and 16 who are more than 80 pounds and taller than 4 feet, 9 inches must be restrained by a vehicle's lap and shoulder safety belt.
If possible, children under the age of 12 should be seated in the back seat. If a child must ride in the front seat, air bags should be disengaged and the seat should be placed as far back as possible.
Exemptions to the new rules include school buses, ambulances, taxicabs, public buses, antique vehicles, motorcycles, law enforcement vehicles and vehicles that seat more than nine people and are owned by organizations.
No matter what type of seat is being used, it is very important the the seat is installed properly.
"One of the most dangerous things is when a seat is improperly fastened or secured," said Rovenstine.
The funds generated from violators' fines will be put in a fund to buy child safety seats for low-income families in Indiana.
For more information about child safety seat laws, visit www.in.gov/cji/clickit or call 800-KID-N-CAR. [[In-content Ad]]
As of Friday, child passenger safety rules will change across Indiana.
State officials passed new laws, which are more expansive than those previously on the books. The grace period allowed people to learn about the law and prepare for the changes it entails.
"People should be aware of the new laws because they will be enforced beginning July 1," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine.
According to www.in.gov/cji/clickit, "Indiana state law requires that as of July 1, 2005, all children ride properly fastened by a child restraint, which can include a belt-positioning booster seat until their eighth birthday."
A child from birth to 1 year of age who weighs 20 pounds or less should be properly restrained in a rear-facing infant seat.
A rear/forward facing convertible seat may be suitable for a child after age 1 until age 2, or when he/she weighs 20 to 40 pounds.
Children more than 1 to 2 years old and weighing from 20 to 40 pounds also are considered properly restrained in a forward-only facing seat.
A belt-positioning booster seat should be used by children from 4 to 8 years old, who weigh 40 to 80 pounds.
Children between the ages of 8 and 16 who are more than 80 pounds and taller than 4 feet, 9 inches must be restrained by a vehicle's lap and shoulder safety belt.
If possible, children under the age of 12 should be seated in the back seat. If a child must ride in the front seat, air bags should be disengaged and the seat should be placed as far back as possible.
Exemptions to the new rules include school buses, ambulances, taxicabs, public buses, antique vehicles, motorcycles, law enforcement vehicles and vehicles that seat more than nine people and are owned by organizations.
No matter what type of seat is being used, it is very important the the seat is installed properly.
"One of the most dangerous things is when a seat is improperly fastened or secured," said Rovenstine.
The funds generated from violators' fines will be put in a fund to buy child safety seats for low-income families in Indiana.
For more information about child safety seat laws, visit www.in.gov/cji/clickit or call 800-KID-N-CAR. [[In-content Ad]]