They'll Fight the Law, but the Law Won. . .

I imagine that there are some seven-year-old kids out there in Massachusetts who are taking the news hard. 

"WHAT?  I have to be in a BOOSTER seat?  But, but, but. . .those are for BABIES!!!  I'm too old/big/cool for a booster seat!"

Tough luck, kiddos. 

Last week, Governor Patrick signed a law requiring kids be in a booster seat until the age of eight, or until they reach 4 foot 9 inches in height.  I have no idea what the previous law required since I intend to keep my children in booster seats until the prom.

There are critics of this law.  There are those who feel that it is another case of the government telling us how to parent, how to live.  That instead of teaching parents why they should keep their kids in boosters and then letting them enforce it themselves, we now have "big brother" taking over again.

I understand that complaint.  I'd like to think that most parents would learn about the dangers, would do the right thing. 

But, then I think about an intelligent, caring, but misguided family friend whose tiny elementary-school-age child rides without a booster seat.  Why?  Because they drive a massive SUV and think that  their vehicle's bulk alone will protect them. 

For those kids, and others like them, I am glad to hear that this is now a requirement.

Just don't try to legislate how clean the interior of a car needs to be, OK?

Comments

[margaret]

That's great!

As far as I know, the previous Mass Law was age 4 (http://tinyurl.com/32q8ua). CT has a similar law, their 7th birthday AND 60 pounds. My almost six year old just hit 40 pounds, so my best guess is that she'll be in a booster seat until around age 10 or so.

[Sandy]

"Because they drive a massive SUV and think that their vehicle's bulk alone will protect them."

Right, because if you hurl a small child from one end of a massive SUV to another, nothing bad will happen!

Sigh.

I really don't like to be told what to do, but with morons... sorry, misguided parents... like that driving little ones around, and with the major cause of death of children 5-8 being car accidents... well. I guess this law is OK with me.

[Chicky Chicky Baby]

I hope my MIL doesn't shrink! She's only 4'10"!

Thanks for this info!

[Karen]

I don't actually mind the law - the problem is that if well-enforced it will become particularly punishing to lower income families. Our for example, really doesn't have a middle should seat belt, so placing a booster in that position is not possible -we would need a minivan if we had three kids required by law to be in boosters (which under this law, someone could easily have, even were there not twins or triplets involved. My two youngest are 22 months apart and only one pound separates them!). In any case, if you aren't able to upgrade your car to meet the new standards, I think we have a problem on our hands. Boosters require a shoulder belt. My 96 Subaru has two shoulder belts and a lap belt in the back seat. Happily my 9 year old is not going to raise any eyebrows - he is plenty tall, but if we'd had the kids closer together, we'd be in a pickle.

[Karen]

I don't actually mind the law - the problem is that if well-enforced it will become particularly punishing to lower income families. Our for example, really doesn't have a middle should seat belt, so placing a booster in that position is not possible -we would need a minivan if we had three kids required by law to be in boosters (which under this law, someone could easily have, even were there not twins or triplets involved. My two youngest are 22 months apart and only one pound separates them!). In any case, if you aren't able to upgrade your car to meet the new standards, I think we have a problem on our hands. Boosters require a shoulder belt. My 96 Subaru has two shoulder belts and a lap belt in the back seat. Happily my 9 year old is not going to raise any eyebrows - he is plenty tall, but if we'd had the kids closer together, we'd be in a pickle.

[Emma kw]

I had booster seats for my kids - they are now 17 and 20, years, not pounds! So I don't have a problem with the law, but what happens when you need someone else to pick up your kids, or need to give someone else a ride at short notice? Is there a waiver? Or will mothers ( or father's) be forced to become stay at home taxi drivers?Will rush hour start at 2pm, with parents rushing to get home to pick up children? Will booster seats be required on school buses??? This will totally undo all the work our local elementary did in getting parents to car pool to cut down on the lines at drop off and pick up!
Will police cars be equiped with scales to weigh suspect children!!!
The cynical me wonders if some parents will stuff their children full of junk food to bulk them up!!!
But now can we get a law stopping little old ladies from driving cars they can't see over the steering wheel!!!

[AlphaDogma]

If your friend is ever in an accident her kid is going to learn what it feels like to be a ping pong ball.

In British Columbia boosters are mandatory for kids over 40 lbs (car seats for kids over 40 lbs can do more harm than good in a collision). There is no upper weight restriction, but boosters must be used until the child is 9 years old AND 145 cm (4 foot 9 inches). And I think it is great, but I'm a bit of an oddball because I personally wish that five point safety harness existed in all cars NOT just in race cars.

[AMC]

Well it seems sweet girl will be in a booster seat until she is 13 if we go by height.... just kidding. Well maybe.
Oh and little FireCracker, she will get to the height probably before she gets to the weight to even be in a booster.
So what do you do with a tall string bean? She's too tall for a carseat, too light for a booster, now what?

BUT, given the fact that a neighbor of mine puts their 7 year old in the front seat of their Honda pilot, I am glad some laws are being talked about right now, because I think she needs a refresher, that just because the air bag is shut off does not mean the front seat is safe.

[Kim/hormone-colored days]

In Illinois the law is 8 yeas old or 80 pounds. My ten year-old weighs is about 60 pounds. I fear he will be in a booster when he has his learner's permit. (Don't call the authorities; I promise we feed him well and often!)