Local Families Wrestle With New Booster Law

For about a month now, 8 year olds have had to relinquish the comfort of the back seat of their parents' car to comply with a new regulation.

In effect since Nov. 24, the New York State law requires all children ages 0 to 8 to use car seats or booster seats. The former law applied to ages 0 to 7 only. 

Prompting the change are national statistics that show car crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 5 to 14.

Some parents allow their children to use adult seat belts after age four because they erroneously believe that if they've outgrown their child safety seats, they must be ready for car restraints only.

However, "booster seats used with seat belts are required during this transition period to be safe," according to the Westchester County Traffic Safety office. 

When purchasing a booster seat, parents must take into account the size, height and weight of the child, and ensure that the product meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which is usually stated on the product's packaging.

A simple but effective booster can be found on sale for as little as $15. To purchase a seat locally, visit Miller's Toys on 335 Mamaroneck Ave.  They carry Graco, Britax and Sunshine Kids. 

Officer Christopher Jaeger, who assists Village of Mamaroneck residents with the proper installation of child seats and safety checks, advises parents to:

1) Read the directions in their vehicle that explain where the LATCH system is (stands for Lower Anchor and Tether for Children).

2) Refer to the product's instructions manual number.

3) Fill out and mail in the warranty card that comes with every new chair, making sure to include an e-mail address.

This last item is particularly important because that is how the manufacturer would contact the parent/s in case there was a product recall or the product failed a safety test, explained Jaeger.  

For personalized instruction on how to install a child seat, contact Jaeger at the village of Mamaroneck Police Department, 914-777-1122; Officer Michael Guevara at the town of Mamaroneck Police Department, 914-381-6100; or Sgt. Ronald Knudsen, Det. Rocco Greco and Officer Matthew Irvine at the village of Larchmont Police Department, 914-834-1000, ext. 3007.

Parents who cannot afford to buy a child seat and live in the village of Mamaroneck should contact the Police Department at 914-777-1122 for information on how to get a free chair. Countywide, they could also call Westchester Safe Kids at 914-592-7555.

For more information on the new booster seat law and proper use of child safety seats, you can also contact the county's Traffic Safety office at 914-995-2555 or visit www.westchestergov.com.  Information is also available at Safe NY.com.