ntjpm said:
Ok well after about a million phone calls (it sure seems like it) I have the answer. According to the law if you are in a vehicle that only has lap belts available and your child is over 40 lbs they can by law be buckeld up in the lap belt with out a car seat. Also any convertaible car seat with a harness workes with a lap belt only until your child is 40lbs that is the point were the shoulder belt is required. Called Britax and they do not recomend a Belt shortening Clip for the Laptop. So here is what I am left with. I understand that in a huge accident with the RV that any car seat is not going to keep him safe. So my goal is to keep him as safe as possible for more normal things like a sudden stop or minor fender bender, And according to everyone I talked to my only option is the vehicles lap belt itself.
The officer I talked to is still coming over on monday so if he comes up with any other ideas than i will let you know.
Thanks again for your help, Tracy in WA
While it may be legal to use only a lap belt, it is not safe. The injuries sustained by kids from wearing lap only belts are horrible- lacerations to organs in the lower abdomen, septic shock from torn intestines, lower spinal fractures and worse. So much so that emergency room surgeons have given the symptoms a name, "Seatbelt Syndrome." If you can find any other option, including a custom tether anchor, your child would be much safer.
Incidentally, if you consult with SAFE RIDE News, ask them about the belt shortening clip and the laptop. The editor of this publication is very knowledgable, and was the one who recommended this as an option to a parent in a similar circumstance on a CPS mailing list some time ago. The direct links are here, though you may have to subscribe to see them:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CPSPList/message/1300
If this works as a last resort, it is likely to be much safer for the child than just a lap belt, though of course you would have to make the decision to do something not advised by a Britax customer service agent.