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For Immediate Release
January 29, 2003
White Reminds Motorists of
New Rules for Child Safety Seat, Seatbelt Use
Measure Goes into Effect Feb. 21
Harrisburg – A new state law
governing the use of child safety restraints in vehicles will go into effect
Feb. 21, according to state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21).
White said the law is designed to
protect children by requiring more young passengers to be secured in safety
seats and expanding the rules for seatbelt use.
Under the new law:
- age-appropriate safety
or booster seats must be used for children up to age 8, as opposed
to age 4;
- failure to properly
secure children in safety seats could result in fines of up to $100;
- children between ages 8
and 18 must be secured with a seatbelt whether they ride in the front
or back seat; and
- failure to ensure that
young passengers use a seatbelt correctly could result in fines of $10.
"Pennsylvania's old child safety seat law contained
a loophole that allowed children between ages 4 and 7 to ride in the back seat
unsecured," said White. "The new rules change that. Also,
they reflect the fact that many children under the age of 8
are just too small to be secured with a seatbelt without a
booster seat."
White said that national statistics show that over
half of children under age 4 who die in car crashes were not wearing safety
restraints at the time of the accident.
White added that, according to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, between 1975 and 1999 an estimated 4,500 children's
lives were saved by proper use of safety restraints. However, approximately 30 percent of children in the United
States are still allowed to ride in cars unrestrained, and four out of five
children who are buckled in are not secured correctly.
The senator noted that State Police will check your
child safety seat and determine if it is installed correctly at area Child
Safety Seat Inspection Stations.
- In Venango County, Troop E Franklin conducts the free
inspections on the second Monday of the month, from 9 a.m. to noon, on a first
come, first served basis. Call 814-676-6596 for more information.
- In Butler County, Troop D in Butler conducts
inspections the first Friday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment
(724-284-1134-ext. 249).
- In Clarion County, Troop C in Clarion conducts
inspections on the third Wednesday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a
first come, first served basis (814-226-1710).
- In Erie County, Troop E in Corry offers the service on
the fourth Wednesday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a first come,
first served basis (814-6632040).
- In Forest County, Troop C in Tionesta conducts
inspections on the first Wednesday of the month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a first
come, first served basis (814-755-3565).
- In Warren County, Troop E in Warren offers the service
on the third Wednesday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on a first come,
first served basis (814-728-3600).
"Parents want to do what's best for their children,
and these new rules reflect the best safety information that is known," said
White. "I encourage adult motorists to keep the new law in
mind when they take children for a drive."
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