OcalaMom.com

When I was a kid, the rules for front seat riding weren't like they are now. Does anyone know exactly what the law even is now?

Question:
What do you think about kids sitting in the front seat?

Choices:
I think the law is perfect now.
As long as they're in a seat belt, it's should be o.k.
These laws are overrated! I was safe when I was a kid. I'm sure my kids would be safe, too.

 

Not sure of the law but I am overly cautious. My kid still is rear facing in her car seat! It's just safer according to statistics.

Oh, this is a topic near and dear to my heart! I used to be a certified car-seat technician when I worked for the police department. Here's the Florida State Statute: (The sad thing is---its not enough)

316.613 Child restraint requirements.--

(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

(b) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall provide notice of the requirement for child restraint devices, which notice shall accompany the delivery of each motor vehicle license tag.

(2) As used in this section, the term "motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle as defined in s. 316.003 that is operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of the state. The term does not include:

(a) A school bus as defined in s. 316.003(45).

(b) A bus used for the transportation of persons for compensation, other than a bus regularly used to transport children to or from school, as defined in s. 316.615(1)(b), or in conjunction with school activities.

(c) A farm tractor or implement of husbandry.

(d) A truck of net weight of more than 5,000 pounds.

(e) A motorcycle, moped, or bicycle.

(3) The failure to provide and use a child passenger restraint shall not be considered comparative negligence, nor shall such failure be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action with regard to negligence.

(4) It is the legislative intent that all state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, and safety councils, in recognition of the problems with child death and injury from unrestrained occupancy in motor vehicles, conduct a continuing safety and public awareness campaign as to the magnitude of the problem.

(5) Any person who violates the provisions of this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318 and shall have 3 points assessed against his or her driver's license as set forth in s. 322.27. In lieu of the penalty specified in s. 318.18 and the assessment of points, a person who violates the provisions of this section may elect, with the court's approval, to participate in a child restraint safety program approved by the chief judge of the circuit in which the violation occurs, and upon completing such program, the penalty specified in chapter 318 and associated costs may be waived at the court's discretion and the assessment of points shall be waived. The child restraint safety program must use a course approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the fee for the course must bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of providing the course.

Now that said....I go absolutely crazy when I see children not properly restrained in the car, or 5 years old sitting in the front seat, or little kids with seatbelts on but not in car seats (there's a reason that most of them go up ot 80 pounds) or infant seats in the front (and my list goes on). According to the class I took for technicians, children under the age of 13 (that includes 12 years and 364 days) should be in the back seat. ALL children neeed to be properly restrained and in a carseat or booster seat if necessary.

I remember while I was living in Connecticut years back, my husband and I were getting gas at a local station. Next door to the gas station was a store where a white car was pulling out into traffic and got hit by another car. There was a 3 year old that was not buckled in and flew right into the front window. I remember watching a volunteer paramedic who just happen to drive by and stop to help frantically working on this child. My husband's best friend's wife was working in the emergency room when they brought that child in and to this day - she never recovered and has severe brain injury to this day. Because Mom and Dad couldn't be bothered to make sure she was properly restrained.

Sorry - hate to be gloom and doom, but we as parents have to make sure we do everything possible to protect our children and it drives me insane when I see others that just don't take the time or even care do it.

Wow Jenn! Thanks for all of that awesome information! More parents should have the specifics on this. Hopefully you'll reach a lot of parents here!

Thank goodness I'm not the only one. I remember my husband telling me to calm down one day as we rode down 200 by the mall. I glanced over only to see a child around 4 yrs old climbing from the back seat to the front seat and back again. All this during the lunch time rush which I'm sure you all know well. I was sooooo furious I had a migrane the rest of the day....

Lately, I have see kids standing in the seats of cars driving down the road. It makes me furious! How can these be reported, should they? I even saw one traveling down 27th avenue (the road beside the mall) sitting in the passengers lap! I was disgusted.

Also, I do not understand why there is a loophole (at least this existed about 3 years ago when I wrote an article on this w/ kids getting flung out in a crash) that basically lets people get away w/ having kids in truck beds NOT restrained at all.

You would also not believe (well, Jenn would definitely know!!) how some people put car seats in. At the postpartum luncheons, we had the lady in charge of Shands Safe Kids come talk and she had pictures of actual car seats in use in Alachua County. There were people who had a 2 y/o in an INFANT carrier!!! I really believe in getting the car seat installed and checked out. So many people don't know how to correctly use the car seat or booster seat. I love our Britax -- I can still have Jodi rear facing b/c the weight limit is so high.

Oh, and I have reported people w/ kids loose in the car. (06chargedhemi -- I've called the non-emergency sheriff's dept number I keep in the cell phone.)
I always give the parents a look, too, when I drive by, even if I don't report them.

That poor 3 y.o., Jenn. I have heard a similar horrible story from my mom from when she was an RN in the ER. The baby never even made it to the ER....... Part of why I'm so careful.

I see so many young children in the front or or even in the back seat that are not buckled in. What is wrong with you parents? Buckle up your children. Use common sense. I have also seen children moving from back to front. This is awful.

I too see even in the car lines at school people letting their kids in at the front seat makes me sick. I also have known people who let their kids ride up front from 7, 8 years old just sick sick. It seems to me these people just dont care about what is best for their child! Why wouldnt you do what is recommended and what is safest? Its like people think it wont happen to them! The ones in the back on their parents laps or the ones who arent securely buckled and their parents dont even care make me sick. Some parents are made to be parents I guess. I just feel sorry for the kids having parents like that

my 13 y/o gets mad at me cause i still make her ride in the back. eventho this year she is able to ride up front i still prefer her in the back. now i use the excuse that her little sis would be to lonely if she sat up front....lol. it is a little harder to pull off when the little one isnt with us tho....in those cases its about a 50/50 chance of me getting her in the back.

Where can I go to have someone check my baby's carseat? I installed accoding to the manufacturer's directions but I'd still ike to have it checked, just to safe. I'm a first time mom, my baby is now 5 months old and I want to make sure that he's as safe as I can make him!

hunniebear25 - the Ocala Police Department used to set up appointments on Tuesdays to check seats. You can call them at 369-7000 and ask to speak with someone about having your seat checked. If they still do, they can help you out. I'm not sure if the Marion County Sheriff's Office is closer to you, but if so or if you prefer MCSO, you could call them at 732-8181 to see what they offer (I'm not sure if they do).

thank you jennB for the info.

Ladies,

Here is a link that will answer alot of your questions. If you need help installing your car seat, click on the county that you live in and it will provide the station address. If you can find a Trooper, any one of them can show you how to install your car seat.

In my experience of working fatals and crashes, children should be in the back seat. A small child can not alway take the impact of an airbag. I hope this helps and be safe.

Cpl. Susan Barge, FHP

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/CPS/

quote:

Originally posted by FHP:
Ladies,

Here is a link that will answer alot of your questions. If you need help installing your car seat, click on the county that you live in and it will provide the station address. If you can find a Trooper, any one of them can show you how to install your car seat.

In my experience of working fatals and crashes, children should be in the back seat. A small child can not alway take the impact of an airbag. I hope this helps and be safe.

Cpl. Susan Barge, FHP

Link

great links, thanks