A NEW car seat law is coming into force today and drivers could be slapped with a $65 penalty if they fall foul of the rules.
Parents must stick to a strict set of requirements depending on the age of their child.
2
2
The law is part of an initiative to ensure children are safe when traveling in cars.
Children younger than two must be seated in a rear-facing car seat, officials have said.
While those between two and five can sit in a forward-facing car seat.
When they turn five, children will be able to use a booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt.
They must sit in a booster seat until they turn eight years old or reach 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Kids under 13 must sit in the rear seat of a car.
The law comes into force today, April 2, across Michigan and there are hefty penalties for those who don’t obey.
Drivers could be slapped with a $65 fine.
Officials have revealed $25 covers a civil penalty as well as court costs.
The remaining $40 covers a justice system assessment, according to the Michigan law firm Goodman Acker.
Transportation officials have recommended the best car seats for families.
A rear-facing car seat is considered the best seat to use.
This is because it has a harness and it can reduce the stress of a child’s neck.
Parents can buy a booster seat with a high back, which provides neck support.
And they have been warned of the risks of buying seats that are backless.
New driving laws in 2025
Drivers across the United States are having to adjust to a slew of new road rules that take effect in 2025. Some of those include:
Michigan’s crackdown comes just months after officials in Minnesota updated their guidance.
Children younger than two must sit in a rear-facing car seat.
And, once they have outgrown the seat, then they can sit in a front-facing car seat.
When they’ve outgrown the seat and are at least four, they can travel in a booster seat.
The law changed on August 1.
The seat law isn’t the only new measure that’s set to come into force.
In Virginia, reckless drivers will be forced to add a device to their cars if they’ve been convicted of speeding offenses.
