Carseat laws in New York?

[Mommy2Mya]

I am having a debate about a girl who plans on going on a trip with her 10 month old to New York without her carseat. She says that cabs are exempt from carseat laws. I think she's nuts. If anyone could tell me the real deal with carseat laws and cabs, that would be great. Thank you!

 

[keri1292]

Unfortunately, it seems that she's right, according to this article from May...
http://wcbstv.com/parenttoparent/local_story_131111100.html
You may want to forward it to her anyway as it sounds like a fabulous service. I particularly enjoy this line...
“the laws of NY may not apply in a taxi, but the laws of physics do.”
Just because you CAN, doesn't make it right. :twocents:

 

[littleangelfire]

Check out this link:
http://www.inventiveparent.com/lawsreg2.htm#New York
It has New York's car seat law in detail. I copied this from it:
"Liveries, taxis, and public transportation buses are exempt from the occupant restraint law."

So they aren't required by law, but law outlines the bare minimum, of course, and I think its more for convenienct sake than caring about safety.

 

[Mommy2Mya]

Thanks a lot for the info. I'm actually really surprised. I find it quite crazy that just because a car is painted yellow and called a taxi means that you don't need to use carseats in it.

 

[littleangelfire]

It is crazy. I'm sure they do it that way b/c people who don't own cars and use taxis on occasion probably don't even own car seats (though they should if they're going to travel with a child.) and they think its too hard to put a seat in and out and in and out of a taxi. But I see that the same way I see people who say they put their 3-4 year old in a booster seat b/c "it's more convenient". Its just not worth it.

 

[keri1292]

It is crazy. I'm sure they do it that way b/c people who don't own cars and use taxis on occasion probably don't even own car seats (though they should if they're going to travel with a child.) and they think its too hard to put a seat in and out and in and out of a taxi. But I see that the same way I see people who say they put their 3-4 year old in a booster seat b/c "it's more convenient". Its just not worth it.

I don't think that the installation is the problem. What would I do with 2 MA's and a Regent walking through Central Park/Times Square/Ellis Island/Empire State Bldg? It's the after the car ride part that is difficult. We take the subway when we go to NYC. Kids think it's more fun and it's a lot cheaper.

 

[Loves2sing]

Can you make sure not to let my dh know this? As far as he knows, (because this is what I have told him) all cabs have to meet the same car-seat laws as anyother vehicle does.:evil grin: Well, as far as my parenting goes, THEY DO HAVE TO MEET MY requirments! LOL

 

[Defrost]

Can you make sure not to let my dh know this? As far as he knows, (because this is what I have told him) all cabs have to meet the same car-seat laws as anyother vehicle does.:evil grin: Well, as far as my parenting goes, THEY DO HAVE TO MEET MY requirments! LOL

And you are not even lying to him! They DO have follow the laws (of physics), just like every other car!

 

[katiesmommy]

This thread is funny to me, because DH and I have been talking about this. We've been taking cabs since we moved. I pop my Decathlon onto my stroller and we walk around with it like that. DH was saying well we don't have to take her carseat because cabs are exempt. I said yeah, doesn't mean that's what I'm going to do. We'll take the carseat anyway until we get a car, and I don't really care how funny it looks.

 

[Victorious4]

Just because the legislators aren't smart enough to make safest practice mandatory does not mean it's OK -- the laws of PHYSICS don't care what state you're in.

NY laws > http://www.safeny.com

Taxi tips > http://www.thecarseatlady.com/taxis/using_taxis_11.html

& my website has a video of a baby-sized dummy in "mom's" arms during a crash (baby is 1st ejected & is then crushed flat by mom) + a picture of Seatbelt Syndrome....

 

[Dillipop]

When we went to DC this past spring, we took a shuttle bus from the hotel to downtown. Dh's comment was that we would just take a taxi back to the hotel when we were through- Yeah, right! My kids will NEVER ride in a car/taxi/van without a carseat.

We took the metro and walked the 5 blocks from the station to the hotel and DH now knows never to mention taxis when the kids are with us!