State rules for child seating in vehicles change Tuesday

The state law concerning the age, weight and height criteria for using car seats, booster seats and seat belts with children changes today. The new law is unchanged for children under age 4, which requires rear-facing child seats for children younger than age 1 or lighter than 20 pounds, and child seats for children heavier than 20 pounds and younger than 4.

The changes apply to children who are ages 4 or older. Under the law:

• Children ages 4 through to their 8th birthday must be in a booster seat or higher-weight car seat if they are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches and lighter than 65 pounds.

• If the child is over 8, over 65 pounds or over 4 feet 9 inches -- any one of these criteria -- it is up to the driver to decide what type of restraint to use.

• All occupants in a motor vehicle over 8 must be properly restrained by at least a seat belt.

Beth Schuerman, a project director with the Alaska Injury Prevention Center, a nonprofit agency, said booster seats protect children who have outgrown their car seats but are too small for a seat belt, as seat belts are designed to fit adult bodies. Research shows that seat belts fit awkwardly across the bodies of children who are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches, often fitting across the child's belly and neck, making them vulnerable to more injuries in a crash. A booster seat lifts a child up so that the seat belt fits across such strong bones as the hips, shoulders and chest. Booster seats must always be used with shoulder-lap seat belts, she said.

Although state law requires all people in cars to wear seat belts, not just children, the penalty for a child not being properly restrained is higher.

Violating the child safety-seat law can result in a fine of up to $50, and points also may be assessed on the driver's record. The penalty can be harsher for repeat offenders.

The fine for an adult not wearing a seat belt is $15.