FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2414

                         C 100 L 94

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to child passenger restraint systems.

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Brown, R. Fisher, Appelwick, J. Kohl, King and Patterson; by request of Washington Traffic Safety Commission).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Background: Children less than two years of age are required to be restrained in a separate child passenger restraint device.  Children two years of age through six years of age may be restrained with a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.

Persons violating the child passenger restraint requirements described above may be issued a notice of traffic infraction.  If the person to whom the notice of infraction was issued presents proof of acquisition of an approved child passenger restraint system within seven days to the jurisdiction issuing the notice, the jurisdiction shall dismiss the notice of traffic infraction.  If the person fails to present proof of acquisition within the time required, he or she is subject to a penalty assessment of not less than $30.

Summary:  A child less than three years old is required to be restrained in a child passenger restraint system in compliance with United States Department of Transportation standards.  The child passenger restraint system must be secured in the vehicle according to instructions from the manufacturer of the child passenger restraint system.

A child at least three years of age but less than 10 years old is required to be restrained either in a child passenger restraint system as described above or with a safety belt properly fastened around the child's body.

Language providing for a penalty assessment of not less than $30 is stricken.

For-hire vehicles; vehicles designed to transport 16 or less passengers including the driver, operated by auto transportation companies; and vehicles providing customer shuttle service between parking, convention and hotel facilities, and airport terminals are exempt from child passenger restraint requirements.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  89 1

Senate 30 18

Effective:  June 9, 1994