New Law Effective July 1st

Georgia’s new child seat belt law will become effective on Friday, July 1st, all children must remain in a booster seat up to age 8, except as noted below.

The new law does have a few exceptions. Overall, it requires all children under 8 to be in an appropriate restraint while travelling in a vehicle. The only exemption is if the child is 4’9” tall or above. A child under 8 years of age and weighing at least 40 pounds is NOT exempt from the law. However, they may use a lap belt only instead of a booster seat if the following conditions occur: The vehicle is not equipped with lap and shoulder belts; or excluding the driver’s seat, all seating positions with lap and shoulder belts are being used to restrain other children.

Upson EMS and the Upson County Health Department will both offer free inspections and instructions to assure that the seats are being used properly. Contact numbers are 706-647-7148 (UCHD) and 706-647-8111, x1540 (EMS).

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are still the leading cause of death for children from 3 to 14 years old.

• For the best possible protection, keep infants in the back seat in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 pounds;
• When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds);
• Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall);
• When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall) they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest).

All children under the age of 13 should ride in the backseat. The facts cannot be ignored—booster and child safety seats save lives. When used correctly in the second row, child safety seats are at least 60-percent effective in preventing fatalities! And restraint use for children transported by belted drivers continues to be higher than those driven by unbelted drivers.

The law will apply to passenger vehicles, vans and pickup trucks. Law enforcement will allow an education period for a short period of time before strictly enforcing the law. 

The first violation of the booster seat law will result in a fine of approximately $50. The second and subsequent convictions will result in $100 fines. The first conviction will add one point to a driver’s license, and the second and subsequent violations will add two points.