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St. Joan of Arc
Early Learning Center
303-422-4949
ELC Field Trip Authorization Form
St. Joan of Arc Parish Website
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The law concerning child restraint systems went into effect on August 1st, 2004. Here
is what is expected of all adults if children ride in their vehicles.
If the child is one year of age or older, but less than four years of age, and
weighs less than forty pounds, but at least twenty pounds, the child must be
properly restrained in a child booster seat or with a child safety
belt-positioning device.
If the child is six years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age and
is fifty-five inches tall or more, the child must be properly restrained with
the motor vehicle’s safety belt properly adjusted and fastened around the
child’s body.
 A “Child Restraint System”
is a seating system that is specially designed to protect, hold, or restrain a
child in a motor vehicle in such a way as to prevent or minimize injury to the
child in the event of a motor vehicle accident. It is either permanently affixed
to a motor vehicle or is affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt or a universal
attachment system. It must meet the federal motor vehicle safety standards set
forth in Section 49 C.F.R. 571.213, as amended.
A “Child Safety Belt-Positioning Device” is a device that positions a safety
belt around a child in a manner that safely restrains the child in a seating
position that conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards
It is the responsibility of the DRIVER TRANSPORTING THE CHILDREN to ensure that
children are provided with, and that they properly use, a child restraint system
or safety belt system.
In March of 2003 H.B. 1144 was signed into law, it reads:
“Concerning the Exemption of Two-Point-Lap-Belt-Only Systems from Certain Child
Restraint System Requirements.” This amendment to last year’s bill says that a
lap belt only (no booster seat) is adequate for the child between 4 and 6 years
of age, IF the only device available for that child is a lap belt. (If there is
a shoulder belt, then a booster must still be used.) This amendment is necessary
because booster seats cannot work effectively with a lap belt only. SIGNED BY
THE GOVERNOR 3/7.
In June 2003, H.B. 1381 was signed into law it reads:
“Concerning Child Restraint Systems in Motor Vehicles”. This is a minor
amendment to the booster seat bill. If the child is age 4 OR weighs 40 pounds or
more, the child must be in a booster seat. If the child is age 6 or older OR 55
inches tall or more, the child must be in a seat belt NOT a booster seat. The
original bill was confusing in its wording. SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR 6/3.
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