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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A8612A
- Ordered to third reading cal.912
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 3623a
- Amend and recommit to codes
- Reported and committed to codes
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to requiring children under the age of 8 to be restrained by a child restraint system in a motor vehicle
Signed by Governor · Sponsor David Gantt
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring children under the age of 8 to be restrained by a child restraint system in a motor vehicle
Purpose of the bill
This bill would enhance highway safety for children who are passengers in motor vehicles.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill would amend Vehicle and Traffic Law ("VTL") § 1229-c(1)(b) to increase, to age 7, the maximum age at which children over the age of four are required to be restrained in booster seats while they are passengers in the back seat of an automobile.
Section 2 of the bill would make the same amendment to VTL, § 1229-c(2)(e), regarding front seat passengers.
Sections 3 and 4 of the bill would make conforming amendments to VTL §§ 1229-c(6) and (12), respectively, concerning the increased maximum age of child passengers subject to the booster seat requirement.
Section 5 of the bill would provide that the bill would take effect 90 days after it becomes law.
Existing law
Currently, the VTL requires only children ages four through six to be restrained in child passenger restraint systems.
Legislative history
A.11083-A passed the Assembly in 2007. restrained in child passenger restraint systems.
Statement in support
Pursuant to two recent enactments (Chapter 509 of the Laws of 2004 and Chapter 18 of the Laws of 2005), ages four through six are required to be restrained in special booster seats, as are those under four who weigh more than forty pounds. However, according to the Center for Disease Control growth charts, while 95% of children under the age of eight weigh less than 80 pounds. All current booster seats are certified for at least 80 pounds and many, up to 100 pounds. The average eight year old is about 50" tall (4 feet 2inches) and 96% of this age group are under 54" (4 feet 6 inches). Due to the difference in anatomy between adults and children, the recommended height to use an adult seat belt is 4 feet 9 inches. Therefore, including 7 year olds in the booster seat requirement is a reasonable step that recognizes the reality of the physical size of this age group, and will enhance the safety of these children when they are passengers in an automobile.
Budget implications
None.
Effective date
This bill would take effect 90 days after receiving Executive approval.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.