New law requires booster/safety restraints for children

Beginning March 27, a new state law will require children ages four, five and six to use booster seats or other appropriate child safety restraints when traveling in an automobile.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends booster seats for all children through the age of eight, provided they weigh more than 40 pounds and are less than four foot nine inches tall. The new state law requires a booster or other child safety restraint for children up to the age of seven.

Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn noted that automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among children and that car seat belts do not provide sufficient protection for young children in the event of an accident.

O'Flynn added that the Sheriff's Office and the Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety are partnering with local community groups to help parents make certain that their child's car seat is installed properly. Details on upcoming checkpoints and other events related to child passenger safety are available on the Monroe County Sheriff's web site at www.monroecountysheriff.info.