Mandatory Safety Seat Training for Parents? - Automated Feed from the Official Car-Seat.Org Blog!

[CPSDarren]

A Nevada Assemblyman, John Carpenter, R-Elko, has said he will propose a bill in the 2009 legislative session requiring mandatory “training in the correct installation of child restraint seats” for parents.  Unfortunately, because of legislative rules, that’s all we get behind the intention of the bill and according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Mr. [...]http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/Carseatblogcom?i=oTVtil (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/Carseatblogcom?a=oTVtil)



Please click here to read more at CarseatBlog.Com... (http://carseatblog.com/?p=102)

[Shaunam]

I left a lengthy comment. And then another to clarify something. :rolleyes: LOL

[Wineaux]

My first thought was, "Holy crap! A politician with a brain!" As for your pragmatist side, I didn't think "who was going to teach it." I thought about finally getting paid, even if it's just a little, for all of my personal expenses, time, and effort in becoming a CPST and then in helping educate the community. The trick will be the funding. I'm guessing it will require both State and Federal monies to do this right, but I do think it's doable. As to Assemblyman Carpenter, I have a sneaking and sad feeling that there is a tragedy involving a child and car seat misuse, or nonuse very close to him. Sometimes though it takes great loss in order to achieve the greatest good...

[vonfirmath]

Um. So it is worth it to TAKE KIDS away from their parents, if the parents do not attend this training? Or what would the punishment be for not doing this?

Honestly, I think this is something government should stay out of.

Going to the training is not going to make the parents install the seats better. It is much better, IMHO, to punish when someone has done something wrong and not because they didn't "Dot all the is and cross all the ts" Nor is going to mandatory training going to cause people to keep their kids in the seats when it becomes inconvenient. Its just going to cause people to resent their government's intrusion in their life more, and give the government one more reason to snatch kids away from parents. (and frankly that is SUCH a trauma in the kids' life I think that we need to have a high bar in order to do it)

[murphydog77]

My first thought was, "Holy crap! A politician with a brain!" As for your pragmatist side, I didn't think "who was going to teach it." I thought about finally getting paid, even if it's just a little, for all of my personal expenses, time, and effort in becoming a CPST and then in helping educate the community. The trick will be the funding. I'm guessing it will require both State and Federal monies to do this right, but I do think it's doable. As to Assemblyman Carpenter, I have a sneaking and sad feeling that there is a tragedy involving a child and car seat misuse, or nonuse very close to him. Sometimes though it takes great loss in order to achieve the greatest good...

This is what I don't understand: where is the money going to come from in a state that is in a budget crisis? The governor refuses to raise taxes and there's a deficit. Wouldn't it make more sense to try and enhance laws that are already on the books, such as the age 6/60 lbs. child safety seat law or work on making wearing a seat belt a primary infraction instead of a secondary one? Perhaps it has hit close to home for him, but it appears to me that this bill is doomed to fail before it's even written.



Um. So it is worth it to TAKE KIDS away from their parents, if the parents do not attend this training? Or what would the punishment be for not doing this?

Honestly, I think this is something government should stay out of.

Going to the training is not going to make the parents install the seats better. It is much better, IMHO, to punish when someone has done something wrong and not because they didn't "Dot all the is and cross all the ts" Nor is going to mandatory training going to cause people to keep their kids in the seats when it becomes inconvenient. Its just going to cause people to resent their government's intrusion in their life more, and give the government one more reason to snatch kids away from parents. (and frankly that is SUCH a trauma in the kids' life I think that we need to have a high bar in order to do it)

Punishment is another valid point to consider. If there's going to be a law, what's going to be the punishment for failure to comply? Honestly, it'll probably be a piddly $40 fee.

[mommyto2angelgirls]

they can educate all they want but sadly where i live a lto fo kids aren't in the proper seats or arein expired seats because parents can not afford the proper seats or new seats. taking kids away isn't going to help nor is a fine. perhaps working with children whose lives have been tragicaly altered by a car accident would be a better punishment. it always makes you want to do something better no matter the cost if you can relate to it. i think if they saw a kid who was now confined to a wheelchair or unable to talk etc. and see pictures of the same child before they may think of their own child like that.