Safety First: Booster Seats, Seat Belts, and Front Seat Riders

Safety is our most important consideration at Marshall Lane.  Ensuring that our students are safe is a priority for all of us, not only on the school grounds but also when they arrive at school in the morning and leave every afternoon,

We have noticed that some students who should still be in a car seat or a booster seat are no longer using one even though they are not yet 8 years old.  In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Board recommends that all children under 12 years old ride in the back seat of the car.

Here is the text of the law:

California’s Occupant Protection Law
As of 2012, California law requires that children be properly secured in the back seat in a proper child restraint system until they are at least eight years old.* Additionally, all children under age 16 must be properly secured in either a proper child restraint system or seat belt.  On a first offense, a child passenger violation will cost a minimum of $475 with penalty assessments.  A second or subsequent offense carries a minimum cost of $1,055.  If the parent is not in the car, the driver gets the ticket.

Estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that 33 children age four and under would have been saved in 2008 in California had they been properly restrained in a child safety seat.

*NHTSA recommends all children 12 and under ride in the back seat.

Our goal in reminding you of these important safety considerations is to assist you in keeping your precious child/ren safe.  We are working with the Sheriff’s Office and our School Resource Officer to monitor this situation. Thank you for reading this information and for helping us to protect your child’s safety in your vehicle.  They are worth it!