JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With accidents are the leading cause of death for children from 5 to 14 years old, Florida is extending the age that kids need to be in child safety seats.
Beginning Jan. 1, children ages under age 6 will be required to sit in a child safety seat or a booster seat rather than only using a seat belt.
Terry Rhodes, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said that while seat belts save lives, booster seats elevate children to the height at which safety belts will properly secure them. After age 5, children are ready to wear seatbelts with a booster seat if they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and can sit all the way back and bend their knees at the edge of the seat.
Parents who violate the new law face a fine of $60 plus 3 points on their license.
"This law is stronger than it was," said Cynthia Dennis, of Safe Kids of Northeast Florida. "It's going to help a lot of kids and promote a lot of awareness, but we still would like to see kids in a car seat longer and booster seat longer."
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 145 Florida children were injured this year because of improper child restraints.
"I believe it's good because our kids are precious gifts, and we want the best for them and the security," said Gisela Jimenez, mother of three young children.
The law allows for some exceptions, including using a seat belt only in cases of emergency or if the driver is not a member of the child's immediate family.