Child Seat Violations

This shocks me. Not only is it the law but I is your child's life at risk. My 7 going on 8 year old does ride with just a seat belt but it is ALL the time. My five going on 6 always has a seatbelt in the booster.
Isn't the 6 or 60? That was the requirement in Fl.

Janet

I believe the law in every state (for both kids and adults) is that you can never be stopped for just a seat belt. You have to conduct a "moving violation." Then, once pulled over, you can be cited for the seat belt too, if relevant.

I think honestly, this is because this is the only way states were able to get the legislation passed. Otherwise, people wouldn't have voted on making it required. I seem to recall reading that back in the 1980-1990's when all the states started passing the seat belt laws.
The compromise.

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 6 yr. old daughter and a 4 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

I always wear my seat belt and my daughter always wears hers along with being in a booster seat all of the time too. It aggravates me to no end when I see children in cars just bouncing around with no seat belt on, standing up while adults are driving, climbing from the back seat to the front seat and vice versa. A lot of times if I'm stopped at a light and the car next to me has a child with out a seat belt on and I'm looking at the car and the adult driving is looking at me I will kinda tug on my seat belt the top part of it as to show them and then point to the kid. I don't care if they like it or not. I'm sure they would much rather see that than see their child go flying out the window or through a window if they got into a crash. Another thing that bothers me too is children (young) sitting in the front seat.

If you see a child under the age of 8 years old riding unrestrainted you can call 1-800-505-2229, you should know the license plate number, the city in which you witnessed it, and the where the child was sitting unrestrained in the car. This number is specific for the state of Arizona. The department of public safety will send out a letter to the registered owner of the car and advise that their vehicle was witnessed with an unrestrained child riding in it and will advise safety information. I don't know what the protocol is if the license plate number is reported numerous times.

We ALWAYS wear our seatbelt. A few of my children when younger hated the car seat and would unbuckle while driving, I would pull over and stop the car. My dad used to do this when we were younger. He would not start the vehicle until we were all buckled. I just think it's comon sense to wear a seat belt. It's dangerous to drive. The 1800505BABY number is great number to call as posted above and on a previous post we did. Put the number in your cell you could save a life.

Jennifer is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com and mommy to four beautiful girls who range from 9 to 4 years of age.

I lived in Illinois for 18 years and they passed a law probably 6-7 years ago that they can stop you for not having your seat belt on. They dont need another reason to pull you over. I think that should be a law in every state. I see way to many infant seats in the FRONT SEAT! What are people thinking? Even on the seat it says not to put in the front seat. I am very very against not wearing your seat belt and not strapping your child in.

We always buckle up and the children are always properly restrained in their car seats that I was taught to install by the Mesa Fire Department.

I firmly believe that it should be legal for the police to pull you over if you or your kids are not buckled up. I also believe that if you are in a car accident and your child was not properly restrained and is killed you should be charged with manslaughter. Laziness and/or ignorance are no reasons to put your child's life at risk!

It is better to be hated for what you are, than to be loved for what you are not.

This is one of the things that angers me to no end. My kids (8,6 & 1) KNOW that I will not even start the car until everyone (including parents) are secured. What kind of excuse is "We don't have time to buckle up"? You don't have 2 seconds to spare for an act that could save your life??!!
I knew that the police couldn't stop a driver based solely on the absence of a seatbelt, but I completely disagree that they shouldn't stop a driver who is transporting unrestrained kids. Isn't that a moving violation? Isn't that child neglect? Isn't that a potential accident based on the distractions to the driver or other motorists?

I am so passionate about it that my kids have even been known to remind friend's parents of the importance of buckling up when they're hitching a ride somewhere. I HATE to see parents who have kids in the front seat, loose in the back, or even worse, parents holding INFANTS in their laps in the front seat. DON'T THEY LOVE THEIR KIDS?

I also am "guilty" of reminding other drivers that seatbelts are crucial buy showing them my disgust in their lack of responsible parenting at stop lights. Nothing says more to a mom or dad who are clueless to child neglect than another parent staring at them and shaking their head in disbelief. Several neglectful parents have even corrected the situation as soon as they saw my stare. I find comfort in hoping that maybe they'll think twice about not enforcing seatbelts in the future.

I didn't know of the 800 baby number....good to know. Great topic!

Proud Mommy to:
Paige - 8
Coleton - 6
Jadyn - 1

Yes we all buckle up. And I don't move the car if all in the car are not buckled up. That is the rule in our house! Shame on those parents!!
I find that odd that police won't pull someone over because their child is not in a seat belt and would rather wait until it's too late to fine someone. Something is wrong with that picture. If they would simply pull them over, perhaps children would leave and not get thrown from the car because of no seat belt.

There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one!