Legislation to toughen Kentucky's vehicle booster seat law is moving closer to becoming a reality. The Senate Transportation Committee approved its version of the measure Wednesday. The modification raises the age and height requirement for children riding in vehicles. Louisville Representative Steve Riggs says the Senate revision relates to the age restriction. "My bill was, you had to be less than nine and this changes it to less than eight, which matches most of the other states,” said Riggs. “Only Tennessee is higher and Utah is higher."
The new standards would require any child under eight or less than 57 inches be belted in a booster seat. Current law sets the limitation at under age seven and between 40 and 50 inches.
Child safety advocates have long sought modifications to Kentucky's vehicle booster seat law. Dr. Susan Pollack has been lobbying for the change for years. "The real issue is not every child at age eight is adequately tall enough either, but it's a big step forward to at least get the right height and at least another year of protection for children," said Pollack.
Senate Transportation Committee Chair Ernie Harris says there's greater realization that current law is inadequate to protect children. He says there's been growing support for booster seat changes over the last few years.
