Saturday, June 18, 2005

Law takes effect requiring booster seat for kids ages 5-6

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

AOLMSTED There is a new state law in effect of which parents of small children need to be aware.

In the last Legislature, the state passed a law, which went into effect Friday, that requires children between the ages of 5 and 6 to be in a booster seat when riding in a car.

Socorro Police Chief Joel Haley said there might be some initial confusion at the start for parents who do not know if their child needs a booster seat or not.

"I think we're going to have a lot of kids that are in the booster seat range and a lot of parents not knowing it," he said.

Booster seats, the chief said are readily available for a cost of between $10 and $15.

As part of the rule, children between the ages of 7 and 12 must also be in a booster seat unless they weigh more than 60 pounds and can properly fit into an adult seat.

Haley said that according to AAA of New Mexico, a properly restrained child means that the lap belt fits across a person's thighs and hips, not the stomach area and the shoulder strap fits in the center of the chest and does not go across the neck.

He said the child must be able to sit all the way back in the seat with their knees bent and have their legs dangling over the seat.

The police chief said that anyone stopped with a child who is not properly restrained could face a traffic citation.

This new law builds on the one that requires children under the age of 1 to be placed in a car seat, facing the backrest. It also says that children between the ages of 1 and 4 must be in a car seat unless they are more than 40 pounds, then they must be in a booster seat.

Haley said that anyone with questions about the new law can call the Socorro Police Department at (505) 835-1883

aolmsted@dchieftain.com

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