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Car Seat Laws?
- Thread starter luvmy2
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stayinhomewithmy6
Senior Community Member
What are the laws in Maine? I was just thinking last night that they should just go ahead and change the law to RF to 2 yrs or 30 lbs. I know it's not easy to change laws and the current laws are based on what they think parents will be willing to comply with, :blah blah blah: But, why don't they just change them and make parents follow the rules?
scatterbunny
New member
Because the politicians that ultimately vote for or against the laws usually do not want to risk upsetting their constituents, so they "err on the side of caution" in their minds, not voting for stricter CPS laws because they don't want to appear to be telling folks how to raise their children. 
So people continue to believe that what the inadequate laws say is actually what is "safe" for their children.
So people continue to believe that what the inadequate laws say is actually what is "safe" for their children.
vonfirmath
New member
Because no matter what the laws say, it is still the parents' responsibility to raise their children, determine what the current state of safety is, etc. And the standards do keep changing, after all.
And because we live in a country where states' rights to set rules for their own citizens is still acknowledged. If you love Maine's rules, you can always move to Maine
And because we live in a country where states' rights to set rules for their own citizens is still acknowledged. If you love Maine's rules, you can always move to Maine
stayinhomewithmy6
Senior Community Member
Because the politicians that ultimately vote for or against the laws usually do not want to risk upsetting their constituents, so they "err on the side of caution" in their minds, not voting for stricter CPS laws because they don't want to appear to be telling folks how to raise their children.
Oh, I get it. That really sucks!
scatterbunny
New member
Oh, I get it. That really sucks!
Yes, it really, really does.
It's so hard to convince politicians that tougher CPS laws are needed.I mean, really--the laws should be there to protect the vulnerable, the ones who cannot protect themselves: the children. Yes, parents have every right to raise their children as they see fit, within reason. If a parent is neglectful in other aspects of childrearing, they would be charged with neglect. If a parent neglects to keep their child safe in the car, it is called a parental decision.
Kids have the right to be protected to the fullest extent from the #1 killer of kids. If parents won't protect them willingly, laws need to be put in place so the kids are protected.
Yes, it really, really does.
I mean, really--the laws should be there to protect the vulnerable, the ones who cannot protect themselves: the children. Yes, parents have every right to raise their children as they see fit, within reason. If a parent is neglectful in other aspects of childrearing, they would be charged with neglect. If a parent neglects to keep their child safe in the car, it is called a parental decision.
Kids have the right to be protected to the fullest extent from the #1 killer of kids. If parents won't protect them willingly, laws need to be put in place so the kids are protected.
Exactly. I wonder why other countries can have such stricter laws than we do?
Because no matter what the laws say, it is still the parents' responsibility to raise their children, determine what the current state of safety is, etc. And the standards do keep changing, after all.
And because we live in a country where states' rights to set rules for their own citizens is still acknowledged. If you love Maine's rules, you can always move to Maine
I wonder if the military will move us to Maine if I ask?
I really have no clue if there are any bases there.
I also think they should change it to 2 or 30 lbs. Maine law is that they have to be in a booster or car seat until 8 or 80 lbs.
Melizerd
New member
Wisconsin's laws have gotten much much better. Now you can't take your child out to "attend to their needs"
* Children must be in a car seat until they reach age 4 and in a booster seat until they reach age 8
* Tiered structure now applies:
o Less than 1 year old, or less than 20 lbs. must be in a rear-facing child seat in the back seat (if so equipped)
o Age 1 to age 4, or less than 40 lbs. must be in a forward-facing child seat in the back seat (if so equipped)
o Age 4 to age 8, between 40-80 lbs., and no more than 4 ft. 9 ins. must be in a booster seat
* The fines remain the same, although tiered for ages 0-4 and ages 4-8
* The exemption allowing temporary removal of a child from a restraint to attend to personal needs has been removed
* The exemption for physical, medical, or body size condition still applies to booster seats and seat belts
Maine's laws are:
Maine state law requires babies and children weighing under 40 pounds to ride in a federally approved, properly secured car seat. Maine's new child passenger safety law further requires children under age eight and under 80 pounds to ride in a car seat or belt-positioning booster seat. Children under age 18 must wear seat belts if they are not in a car sat or booster seat, and children under age 12 and weighing less than 100 pounds must ride in a rear seat if possible.
* Children must be in a car seat until they reach age 4 and in a booster seat until they reach age 8
* Tiered structure now applies:
o Less than 1 year old, or less than 20 lbs. must be in a rear-facing child seat in the back seat (if so equipped)
o Age 1 to age 4, or less than 40 lbs. must be in a forward-facing child seat in the back seat (if so equipped)
o Age 4 to age 8, between 40-80 lbs., and no more than 4 ft. 9 ins. must be in a booster seat
* The fines remain the same, although tiered for ages 0-4 and ages 4-8
* The exemption allowing temporary removal of a child from a restraint to attend to personal needs has been removed
* The exemption for physical, medical, or body size condition still applies to booster seats and seat belts
Maine's laws are:
Maine state law requires babies and children weighing under 40 pounds to ride in a federally approved, properly secured car seat. Maine's new child passenger safety law further requires children under age eight and under 80 pounds to ride in a car seat or belt-positioning booster seat. Children under age 18 must wear seat belts if they are not in a car sat or booster seat, and children under age 12 and weighing less than 100 pounds must ride in a rear seat if possible.
Morganthe
New member
I wonder if the military will move us to Maine if I ask?
I really have no clue if there are any bases there.
DH was stationed at Loring AFB in "occupied Canada" northern Maine as his first base in the late 1980s. It's between Caribou and Limestone towns/cities. The base is mostly closed down, but there is still active duty assigned because it's a Superfund site. The State of Maine has refused to take back the property due to toxicity levels. Might be considered controlled tour. Don't know for sure.
There's always AD Guard & Reserve 'stuff' (as dh puts it
), maybe even Navy assignments at Portland, ME.
joolsplus3
Admin - CPS Technician
Because no matter what the laws say, it is still the parents' responsibility to raise their children, determine what the current state of safety is, etc. And the standards do keep changing, after all.
And because we live in a country where states' rights to set rules for their own citizens is still acknowledged. If you love Maine's rules, you can always move to Maine
But the law governs everything there is to say about how to make a car... why not make it law to make the cars SAFE for children? (built in boosters and harnesses...right along with the laws about three point seatbelts for adults and even the position of the gas pedals and gear shift designations). They force us to purchase cars that don't suit our children, then won't support our children's safety by enacting laws about carseats that would keep them safe. They have already removed my freedom to buy a safe car for my children (seats and belts that fit them, airbags that won't hurt them), the onus is on them to make up for that mistake by enacting appropriate carseat laws.
stayinhomewithmy6
Senior Community Member
I'm in WI, too, and am very impressed with the new laws. They don't seem to be enforcing them in my neck 'o the woods, though.
DH was stationed at Loring AFB in "occupied Canada" northern Maine as his first base in the late 1980s. It's between Caribou and Limestone towns/cities. The base is mostly closed down, but there is still active duty assigned because it's a Superfund site. The State of Maine has refused to take back the property due to toxicity levels. Might be considered controlled tour. Don't know for sure.
There's always AD Guard & Reserve 'stuff' (as dh puts it
Interesting! We will be moving end of summer/beginning of fall, but I have no clue where yet!
:yeahthat: While I understand the concept of states' rights, it's ironic that federal regulations are in place or can be enacted for certain vehicle safety features, such as mandatory stability control in a few more years for new vehicles, or shoulder belts for all seating positions going in effect for '08 models. Yet we don't have consistent child restraint laws in place nationally. The laws of physics are no different here in Michigan than in states with more stringent booster laws enacted. There are extra strong inertial forces from the auto industry to contend with here to a degree, and elected officials who tread lightly to avoid ticking off the auto interests, tourism industry, and the individual rights proponents.
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