Minn. Senate Gives Preliminary Nod to Rise in Age for Child-seat Use

A bill to raise the age at which children must be strapped in booster seats while riding in cars, trucks and vans received preliminary approval in the state Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, would raise the age from 4 to 8 and waive a $50 fine for violating the law if the offender gets a booster seat within two weeks of the violation. Currently, the fine can be waived or reduced, though there’s no requirement for such action.

Carlson said Monday that the legislation will reduce fatalities and injuries to children in car crashes, though a DFL colleague, Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm, questioned whether some children might be too big to fit into the seats.

The seats, which cost $20 to $35, now must be used to strap in youngsters up to 4 years of age, though many parents routinely use them for children 4 and older.

A bill could come up for a final vote in the Senate sometime today.

Topics Politics