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Amanda Butterfield reporting A bill passed on the last day of the legislative session will change the way Utah children ride in the car--at least the way they ride legally. But Eyewitness News found that few people know about the change and how it affects their children.
For six years child advocate groups have been pushing to get House Bill 140 passed. The bill changes the age requirement for children who must ride in a booster seat. This session it finally passed, but not a lot of families know about it yet.
The Leonilles, like a lot Utah families, are just learning about HB140 and how it will change the way they drive around their son Lance. "We were unaware of any legislation," Lance's father said.
"This bill means parents will keep children in booster seats until at least age 8," explained Janet Brooks, child advocacy manager for Primary Children's Medical Center.
The current law is 5 years old. "So we're capturing that 5 to 8 year range where that seat belt really does not fit appropriately," Brooks said.
She has been fighting for this bill to pass for years, and is relieved it finally has. "It will absolutely save lives," she said.
Booster seats are relatively easy to use. All you do is set the booster seat down and buckle in the child like you normally would. This way the child can see out the windows and is more comfortable.
Now, that means children in carpools will have to have a booster with them at all times. "When a child goes to school they take their backpack. They should take their booster seat with them too," Brooks said.
Even though this might be a nuisance for children and drivers, Brooks says it's worth it. "We know booster seats reduce death up to 60 percent," she said.
"As long as research based and it is for the safety I'm all for it," Lance's dad said.
So even though Lance may have to take a booster with him to school, and will have to sit in one three years longer than what his parents thought, they're OK with it. "If it keeps him safe, yes definitely," Lance's mother said.
There is one exemption to the bill: If your child is over 57 inches--or 4 feet, 9 inches tall--he or she does not need to sit in the booster.
