Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Office of Public Affairs

For Immediate Release

Media contact: Robin Jenkins
502-564-3419

Erin Goin
502-564-1438

Kentucky’s booster seat law now in effect
Fines will be issued if children are unrestrained

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 1, 2009) – Effective today, July 1, law enforcement officers will no longer provide a courtesy warning to motorists who violate Kentucky’s booster seat law. Violators will be issued a $30 fine, but will have the option of purchasing a booster seat instead of paying the fine.

Gov. Steve Beshear signed legislation in April 2008 aimed at improving safety for child passengers in Kentucky. Senate Bill 120 requires that children younger than 7 and between 40 and 50 inches tall be secured in a booster seat.

“Booster seats are proven to be effective at saving young lives. This law provides a reasonable approach to help achieve our ultimate goal of saving lives and reducing injuries. I’m honored to have been a part of it,” said Gov. Beshear.

“It’s the responsibility of every parent and caregiver to ensure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “A booster seat is designed to fit and protect those children too big for a harnessed car seat, but too small for a seat belt.”

Boosters elevate children so that the seat belt, which is designed for an adult, is in the proper position to protect the child in a crash. Children involved in crashes with improperly fitted seat belts often receive life-threatening injuries to the abdomen, neck, spine or back.

“With motor vehicle crashes being the leading cause of death for children nationwide, the law is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Erin Goin, statewide child passenger safety coordinator with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. “However, because seat belts are designed to fit people who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, we encourage the use of boosters until the maximum height and weight limit specified by the seat manufacturer is reached.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a properly installed, belt-positioning booster seat lowers the risk of injury to children by nearly 60 percent, compared with seat belts alone.

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