Seat booster

Changes to the Georgia Booster Seat Law 
 

  Why are Booster Seats Needed? 

Effective July 1, 2011  
Children under age 8 must be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat while riding in:  Passenger automobiles,  Vans,  and Pickup trucks      The car seat and/or booster seat must:      Be in the rear seat (some exceptions apply) Be appropriate for the child’s weight & height  Meet all federal standards  Be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s  instructions    

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Seat belts are made for adults and do not fit young children correctly. Boosterseats raise children up so the adult seat belt fits them. Booster seats position the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest, not the neck. Booster seats also keep the lap belt low over thehip and thigh bones, not across the belly. Children using booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than those using a seat belt alone

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Exemptions:   Children under age 8 whose height is over 4’9” or 57”  Parent or Guardian has a written statement from a  Physician that the child has a physical or medical condition that prevents placing or restraining them as  required by law   

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Booster Seat Tips  Booster seats must never be used with only the lap belt. Do not allow a child to place the shoulder belt behind his back or under his arm Childrenshould ride in the back seat until at least 13 years of age.

Exceptions:  A child under age 8 and weighing at least 40 pounds is not exempt from the law.  They may use a lap belt only instead of a car seat or  booster seat when:    The vehicle is not equipped with lap & shoulder belts;  or  Excluding the driver’s seat, all seating positions with lap & shoulder belts are being used to restrain other  children.  In this case, the placement of car seats /  boosters seats should be evaluated to determine if  they can be repositioned to provide the best ...