New Child Safety Seat Requirements:

2011-2012 Regular Session - Georgia Senate Bill 88

Article written May, 2011

 

          On May 9, 2011, Georgia's governor Nathan Deal signed into law Senate Bill 88, which increases the age requirements for child safety seats in motor vehicles.  Georgia Code Section 40-8-76 has been amended to require proper restraint systems for children under eight years of age in a car, van, or pickup truck (but not a taxicab or public transit vehicle).  Before amendment, the requirement was for children under six years of age.
 
 
           There is a height limit: at four feet, nine inches, the child can use a regular seat belt. The child passenger restraining system must be appropriate for the child's height and weight and approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  If the child can be properly restrained in the back seat, the child must be in the back seat; the only exception to this is if the vehicle has no rear seating position appropriate for correctly restraining a child.
 
 
            If the child restraining system is not being used accordingly to the manufacturer's directions, the driver shall be considered to be in violation of the law -- so be sure to install the safety seat according to the directions!
 
 
            There is a lot more to the new law than is outlined here.  If you want to read the whole thing, here is a link: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display.aspx?Legislation=32744.  Our office does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any material outside this website.