New Child Booster Seat Law In Effect
As of January 1, 2015, Florida law requires that all children 
under the age of 6 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall be strapped into a child restraint seat or a booster seat for safety. Prior to implementation of the law, Florida was one of two states in the U.S. without a booster seat law.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 145 Florida children have been injured this year because of improper child restraints. The Auto Group Traffic Safety Foundation finds that each year, an average of 1,500 children die and 175,000 are injured in car crashes, which makes motor vehicle crashes a leading cause of death for children.
Booster seats help elevate children to the height at which the safety belt will properly secure them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury by 45 percent for 4 to 8 year olds.
The law allows for some exceptions, including using a seat belt only in cases of emergency or if the driver is not a member of the child’s immediate family.
Advocates hope the new law will improve safety and lifesaving measures for children. Any parent or person who violates the law faces fines of $60 and 3 points on their license.
If you need assistance in choosing a safety seat or installing one, please visit contact one of these organizations for help:
* SaferCar.Gov – www.safercar.gov/parents/CarSeats/Car-Seat-Safety.htm?view=full
* SafeKids.Org – www.safekids.org/
* AAA – http://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/Branches/Branch.aspx?l=srch
Our firm offers a free educational program on child safety seats. If you or your organization is interested in having this child seat safety discussion presented to your audience, please contact Pam Henney at (561) 366-9099.
