Help support California Child Passenger Law Bill -SB 929

morninglori

New member
To all California advocates/techs/parents -

I wanted to pass along a request I received from my local PD/CPST-I (originated from the SK Coordinator in Sacramento), asking for letters of support for SB 929 to be sent to Governor Jerry Brown, letting him know that we need to have stronger Child Passenger Safety Laws than we currently do. I have attached the SB 929 Fact Sheet and Sample Support letter that was sent to me. If you have a few minutes please send in a letter.

Thanks!

Hello all,

Hello Child Passenger Safety Advocates, (sorry if you get this twice)

Senate Bill 929 (Evans) which will increase the booster seat requirement to age 8, is headed to the Senate floor and must be passed by 9/9/11, but could be passed as early as next week. Then it is off to the Governor.

We need your help with the Governor. We do not have a solid read on his position. Also, being a ‘man of the people’ he WANTS to hear from the people. This is where you come in.

Ø Could you as a citizen, child passenger safety technician, parent or grandparent write a letter of support?

Ø Is there any way your agency, on letterhead of course, could write a letter?

Letters need to be addressed to:

The Honorable Jerry Brown
State Capitol
Attn: Brian Putler, Deputy Legislative Secretary
Sacramento CA 95814

Make sure you put Support: SB 929 (Evans) Child Passenger Safety in bold.

The fax number to the Legislative Affairs office in the office of Governor Brown is (916)558-3177 (FAX) and the phone number is (916)445-4341 (PHONE). His e-mail is: Brian_Putler@ftb.ca.gov

We are not sure if the email will get to him so please fax or send by snail mail or both if possible.

A sample letter is attached.
 
ADS

Qarin

New member
I was feeling skeptical, and went to read the actual proposed bill, and continued with my skepticism as I read- it was looking like they were trying to change the law from 6-or-60 to 8-with-no-regard-to-size, which would be a problem, but actually the law seems to really define things well, has an exemption for children under 8 who are at least 4'9", but most importantly, defines properly restrained:

http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/billtrack/text.html?bvid=20110SB92996AMD

(2) For purposes of this section the phrase, "properly restrained
by a safety belt" means that the lower (lap) portion of the belt
crosses the hips or upper thighs of the occupant and the upper
(shoulder) portion of the belt, if present, crosses the chest in
front of the occupant.

That gives the "proper use" clause we talk about here some actual teeth... a real definition to show people!
 

morninglori

New member
Thanks for posting the link to the actual proposed bill. The fact sheet doesn't really mention the 4'9" part only a reference to the current AAP and NHTSA guidance. I can see where the skepticism comes from if one were to just look at the fact sheet and sample letter that was sent.

I do agree that it is great that the definition of properly restrained is in there. I have had conversations with the officer/CPST-I work checks with/for, about the meaning of properly restrained, and she said that having the definition well stated will help her and the other traffic officers, enforce this law more effectively.
 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician
Wow, didn't even realize this was going on.

Awesome on the proper use clause.

Anything would be better than what we have now.
 

lanwenyi

New member
I'm not a CPST, but I am a parent, was a teacher, and DH is a teacher. Would a letter of support from us be helpful?

If yes:
The sample letter won't work for us though. I haven't ever sent a letter for a specific bill (have for issues). Would a formal letter like the sample be better or would a more friendly-type letter be better since I would be writing as a concerned citizen rather than as a representative for an organization?

ETA: I can email and snail mail, but cant fax.
 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician
Frankly, letters from "regular people" are probably more valuable than those from "experts." Part of the reason similar laws haven't passed in the past is that the governor/legislators worried that there would be too much backlash against the change in rules.
 

Amartin100503

New member
Glad to see something like this in CA coming out. I will be sending in a letter as a concerned parent and asking my parents to send in a letter each as concerned grandparents.

I have a "friend" (our husbands are friends) who just doesn't care about child seat laws and took her barely 5yo out of a booster (it was a no-back booster too). I tried to explain to her that he was too young and especially too small. She just rolled her eyes and said he was fine, and I left it alone.

eta- signed and sent today!
 
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