DENVER - A new Colorado law took effect Sunday affecting thousands of children, but few parents may know about it.
The previous law required that only children between the ages of 4 and 5 be restrained in booster seats while in a motor vehicle. Now, kids who are 6 and 7 years have to be in them as well.
Some parents came out to learn about the law at a booster seat fitting in Denver outside St. Anthony Central Hospital Saturday.
"It took me by surprise," said Wendy Macha of Westminster. Her 6-year-old son Emmett has been out of a booster for more than a year. "I don't have a booster seat. I haven't had one since he was 45 pounds," she said.
Under the new law, a child's weight and height are no longer the only determining factors.
"The booster seat portion of the law does not have a weight requirement or a height requirement, only an age requirement," said Vera Fullaway, spokesperson for Colorado Child Passenger Safety Program. That new requirement effects kids under eight.
"Seat belts are not made for children's bodies," said Fullaway, as she fits Emmett with his booster seat. She added that the lap belt often sits on a child's abdomen instead of the hips causing injuries in an accident.
And on Emmett, the shoulder belt sits on his neck and face. When he is fitted with a booster, the lap belt now rests on his hips. And his shoulder belt fits right too.
"The shoulder belt is now crossing his center collar bone," said Fullaway.
Emmett wasn't looking forward to the change either. "He said, 'Mommy, I'm a big boy I don't need a booster seat. I'm a big boy,'" his mom said, laughing. But they are very okay with it. "Even driving down here without a booster seat could have put him in danger. Now, I feel totally comfortable," said Macha.
Celina Zamora also had to put her 6-year-old daughter in a booster--which means no more riding in the front seat. "She probably ain't going to like it," she said of her daughter, Anastazia.
Not having a child in a booster or car seat is a primary offense, police can pull violators over for that reason alone. The minimum fine is $82 for every violation. But police will give a warning in the law's first year.
There are several booster seat fittings across Colorado. A list can be found at http://apps.coloradodot.info/CarSeats/index.html
The previous law required that only children between the ages of 4 and 5 be restrained in booster seats while in a motor vehicle. Now, kids who are 6 and 7 years have to be in them as well.
Some parents came out to learn about the law at a booster seat fitting in Denver outside St. Anthony Central Hospital Saturday.
"It took me by surprise," said Wendy Macha of Westminster. Her 6-year-old son Emmett has been out of a booster for more than a year. "I don't have a booster seat. I haven't had one since he was 45 pounds," she said.
Under the new law, a child's weight and height are no longer the only determining factors.
"The booster seat portion of the law does not have a weight requirement or a height requirement, only an age requirement," said Vera Fullaway, spokesperson for Colorado Child Passenger Safety Program. That new requirement effects kids under eight.
"Seat belts are not made for children's bodies," said Fullaway, as she fits Emmett with his booster seat. She added that the lap belt often sits on a child's abdomen instead of the hips causing injuries in an accident.
And on Emmett, the shoulder belt sits on his neck and face. When he is fitted with a booster, the lap belt now rests on his hips. And his shoulder belt fits right too.
"The shoulder belt is now crossing his center collar bone," said Fullaway.
Emmett wasn't looking forward to the change either. "He said, 'Mommy, I'm a big boy I don't need a booster seat. I'm a big boy,'" his mom said, laughing. But they are very okay with it. "Even driving down here without a booster seat could have put him in danger. Now, I feel totally comfortable," said Macha.
Celina Zamora also had to put her 6-year-old daughter in a booster--which means no more riding in the front seat. "She probably ain't going to like it," she said of her daughter, Anastazia.
Not having a child in a booster or car seat is a primary offense, police can pull violators over for that reason alone. The minimum fine is $82 for every violation. But police will give a warning in the law's first year.
There are several booster seat fittings across Colorado. A list can be found at http://apps.coloradodot.info/CarSeats/index.html
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