MARYLAND BOOSTER SEAT LAW IS CHANGING AS OF JUNE 30, 2008

The following announcement has been posted on MSFA:

MARYLAND BOOSTER SEAT LAW IS CHANGING AS OF JUNE 30, 2008

PLEASE PASS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON.

MARYLAND BOOSTER SEAT LAW

The revised law will require children up to age 8 to ride in an appropriate child safety restraint, unless the child is 4 foot, 9 inches or taller or weighs more than 65 lbs.

Educational tips/facts:

-A child's age takes precedence, with height and weight as an exemption. Please do not emphasize height and weight because, as you know, kids are not cookie cutter sized and vehicles have different seating designs. A 4'9" child may not fit correctly in some seat belts. Also, weight really has no impact on how a child fits in an adult seat belt. Most likely, a small, heavy child will not fit in the belt correctly.

If you come across a child who has met the exemption but you are not sure if they will correctly fit in the seat belt, please stress the Safety Belt Fit Test, which is the "Gold Star" standard for safety. I've included a copy of Safety Belt Safe's "5-Step Test" for your review. Examples of when to recommend the "5-Step Test" would be:

- a six year old who weighs 70 lbs
- a seven year old who stands 4'10" tall
- a nine year old who still does not fit in the adult seat belt

All these children should abide by the "5-Step Test", which will determine the fit of the seat belt to the child in that particular vehicle.

- For older children, a booster will most likely be the best option but a seat choice may also include an appropriate harness seat
- The out-of-state vehicle provision was removed so the law will be applicable to both MD vehicles and all out-of-state vehicles
- The law is enforceable immediately. Please make sure care givers are aware of this!

After that, all other aspects of the law remain as is:

-The restraint must be appropriate for the child and used according to both vehicle and child restraint manufacturers instructions
- Individual use remains the same. Meaning, double belting (buckling two kids in one seat belt) is not permitted
- It is still applicable to all seating positions for any child up to age 16
- Fines remain the same
- Medical exemption remains the same
- Children from 8 to 16 years old must be correctly buckled in the vehicle
- Children under 16 may not ride in the back of an unenclosed pick up truck (remember that some local ordinances may supercede the state law to prohibit anyone from riding the back of an unenclosed pick up truck).
- If there are too many children in the vehicle, but all passenger securing locations are occupied by children, there is no violation for an unrestrained child
- One ticket per vehicle for child passenger safety law violation remains the same

For further information you can contact Maryland Kids In Safety Seats at 800-370-SEAT