Politics & Government
Georgia Child Restraint Law Changes July 1st
Clarification regarding child seat belt laws that go into effect next week.
Changes to the state's Child Restraint Law effect all Georgians, says Lisa Holland, Roswell Police Department Public Information Officer.
Beginning next Friday, July 1, the new law mandates that all children under 8 years of age must be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat. Determinants are age and height, not weight as previously reported by some media outlets.
The child's safety seat device must be installed in the rear seat and used according to manufacturer’s instructions. It should be appropriate to the child’s height and weight. The law applies to cars, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks; it does not apply to taxis and public transportation.
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Failure to do so may result in a fine and points assessed to a person's driver’s license.
The two exceptions to restraint law are children under eight whose height is 4’9” (57”) or by written statement from a physician indicating that the child has a physical or medical condition which prevents placing or retraining them as required by law. The parent or guardian is advised to keep such documentation within their possession at all times.
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Lap belt should be used to install car seats for younger children and the lap and shoulder belts for booster seats and others.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests selecting a car seat based on the age and size of the child and having the child ride in the back seat at least through age 12. Reviewing your vehicle owner’s manual can provide instructions for proper installation.
General guidelines indicate that children under the age of one should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Once a child outgrows the height or weight limits of the rear-facing seat (typically 1 to 3 years of age), they may be ready to ride in a forward-facing car seat with a harness-type restraint system. A booster seat will be required once the child surpasses the limits stated by the manufacturer of the car seat. When the child becomes big enough to fit properly in a seat belt, they may forego a booster seat. By definition, a properly fitted lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach; the shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, not across the face or neck.
The following Web sites can provide more information:
