Got a ticket...

[Cherbear013]

Was pulled over for speeding, which was questionable anyway. Cop saw that my son (2.5) had his arms out of the seat belt. He has done this for months now and we always get on him and make him put his arms back in. I had stopped and then the cop asked me to pull up further before he walked up to my car. I am so livid as the ticket says I failed to restrain the child properly. I've spent hours researching the best car seat and just got him a new one about a month ago. On his last seat he was able to pull the chest clip down and slide his arms out too. I've researched and asked questions on forums but there is no solution to this problem. This is going to cost me lots of money as I had a mandatory court date and I'll have to go to some class which is difficult because we own our own business and I'm exclusively breastfeeding my 7 month old. Is there anything I can say, do or prove for my court date?

 

[tl01]

What seat was your child in?

 

[Cherbear013]

Recaro Performance Sport. He previously had the Recaro ProRide and I briefly tried the Radian RXT. He can move his arms on them all even when pulled tight.

 

[carseatcoach]

Get a lightweight button-up shirt. Put it on the child over his regular clothes with the front unbuttoned. Sit the child in the carseat with the shirt opened and pulled to the sides. Buckle the harness and chest clip over his regular clothes but not the extra shirt. Button the extra shirt OVER the harness.

 

[Cherbear013]

Does that comply with all the car seat laws? I will try that. Thanks!

 

[carseatcoach]

Yes, it is safe and legal. Use the thinnest shirt you can find and try to make sure it isn't bunched up, but carseats are meant to be used by clothed children so it should be fine.

 

[lgenne]

And if that doesn't work, there's this: http://carseatblog.com/27151/merrit...nd-of-the-line-for-the-carseat-escape-artist/