Assembly Passes Green/Chivukula/Stack Measure to Increase Child Safety In Vehicles

ASSEMBLY PASSES MEASURE TO INCREASE CHILD SAFETY IN VEHICLES

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Jerry Green, Upendra Chivukula and Brian P. Stack sponsored to increase penalties for drivers who fail to secure small children in safety or booster seats.

"Forgoing a car or booster seat for a child who is not yet big enough to ride without one greatly increases the chances that the child will be seriously injured in even a minor car accident," said Green (D-Union).  "The few extra minutes it takes to ensure that young passengers are properly secured can literally save a life."

The Green, Chivukula, Stack measure (A-461) would increase the penalties for drivers who fail to secure a child under age 8 or weighing less than 80 pounds in a child passenger restraint system or a booster seat.  The bill increases the penalty for a first offense to $100 from the current $25 maximum.  Second and subsequent offenders would be fined up to $500.  It also modifies a provision allowing motorists to avoid the fines associated with a first offense if they can provide proof of owning a child restraint system in court.

The committee amended the bill to also create a fund utilizing a portion of the collected fines to increase access to child safety restraint systems for low-income and working-class families.

"Cars and their safety restraints are designed to protect people over a certain height and weight and children who are properly secured," said Chivukula (D-Somerset).  "Forgetting or ignoring that simple fact can put child passengers in mortal peril."

"Car crashes are a leading cause of death among children nationwide," said Stack (D-Hudson), a member of the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee.  "Motorists have an obligation to ensure that every passenger - adult and child alike - is safely secured in their seats."

The Assembly passed the measure 74 to 6.  It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
--30--