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Booster Seats Mandatory And PST Exempt As Of September 1, 2005
QUEEN'S PARK, ON, Aug. 11 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is protecting
the province's children by making child car seats and booster seats law for
all drivers traveling with young children, Transportation Minister Harinder
Takhar said today.
"We know child car seats and booster seats save lives. In fact they can
reduce the risk of death or injury by as much as 75 per cent," said Takhar.
"That's why having kids properly secured is no longer an option. It's the
law."
A new law goes into effect September 1st, making it mandatory for anyone
transporting children to make sure children are properly secured in either an
infant seat, child seat, or booster seat. This would apply to all caregivers,
from babysitters to grandparents.
Rear-facing infant car seats are required for infants weighing 9kg
(20 lbs) or less. Forward-facing child car seats are required for children
weighing between 9kg and 18 kg (20 to 40 lbs), children about one year of age.
Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing
more than 18 kg but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and who stands less than
145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following
criteria is met:
- child turns eight years old
- child weighs 36 kg (80 lbs)
- child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
As well, the government will no longer collect the Provincial Sales Tax
(PST) on booster seats, effective September 1, 2005. Child and infant seats
are already PST-exempt.
"Properly restrained children, through the use of car and booster seats,
reduce the likelihood of death or serious injury," said Gordon Jones, Acting
Inspector of Toronto Police Service Traffic Services. "This new legislation
requiring caregivers to use proper restraining devices will have a positive
impact on the safety of our children."
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to get more information about how
to properly install child car seats or booster seats by attending a child car
seat inspection clinic in their area.
"We've seen far too many tragedies that could have been prevented had
children been properly buckled up," said Dave Paradis, Manager, St. John
Ambulance, York Region. "I'm hopeful that by making child car seats and
booster seats mandatory, this will help save young lives."
Drivers who fail to use booster or child car seats, or who use them
incorrectly, face two demerit points plus a $110 fine. Quebec is the only
other Canadian jurisdiction with a booster seat law. In the United States, 29
states plus Washington, D.C., require booster seats.
Backgrounder
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BETTER PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH ON ONTARIO'S ROADS
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death and injury among
children and youth. To better protect the most vulnerable members of our
society, the Ontario Legislature passed An Act to Enhance the Safety of
Children and Youth on Ontario's Roads, Bill 73, December, 2004.
Changes to child car seat legislation
Effective September 1, 2005, the Highway Traffic Act will:
- Require all drivers, including grandparents and babysitters, to use
child car seats or booster seats when transporting children
- Require booster seats for small children who have outgrown child car
seats but are still too small to be fully protected by seatbelts alone
- Assign two demerit points, a $90 fine plus a $20 victim fine surcharge
for failing to use booster or child car seats, or for using them
incorrectly.
Requirements for rear-facing infant car seats
Must be used for newborns and small infants weighing less than 9 kg
(20 lb.).
Requirements for forward-facing car seats
Forward-facing car seats - with a tether strap to better anchor the seat -
must be used to secure toddlers who:
- Weigh between 9 kg and 18 kg (20-40 lb.)
- Are able to pull themselves up to a standing position
- Are about one year old.
Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing
more than 18 kg but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and who stand less than 145 cm
(4 feet 9 inches) tall.
A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following
criteria is met:
- child turns eight years old
- child weighs 36 kg (80 lbs)
- child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
Requirements for seatbelts
A child can be properly protected by a seatbelt alone when they:
- Have had their eighth birthday
- Are at least 145 cm (57 in., or 4 ft. 9 in.) tall
- Weigh more than 36 kg (80 lb.).
When a child can sit against the vehicle's back seat, with legs bent
comfortably over the edge of the seat and the shoulder belt flat across their
shoulder and chest, the child is ready to be fully protected by an adult
seatbelt.
Children under 13 years of age are safest in the rear seat of a vehicle,
away from active airbags. Drivers are responsible for ensuring passengers
under 16 years of age are properly secured.
Exemptions include
Taxis, public vehicles, buses, emergency vehicles, vehicles on short-term
lease, and those from other jurisdictions will be exempt from the new child
car seat regulations.
Cost and what seat to buy
Booster seats cost between $30 and $160. A higher price does not
guarantee a safer booster seat. Caregivers should ensure they understand how
to use the seat and that it includes a Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
label. Information on car seat recalls is available from Transport Canada by
calling 1-800-333-0371 or visiting www.tc.gc.ca.
Effective September 1, 2005, provincial sales tax will no longer be
collected on booster seats purchased in Ontario. Child and infant seats are
already PST-exempt. For more information, please call the TAX FAX Service at
1-877-4-TAX-FAX (1-877-482-9329) or visit www.trd.fin.gov.on.ca.
How to install
Parents and caregivers can get more information about how to properly
install child car seats or booster seats by attending a child car seat
inspection clinic in their area. For details on upcoming clinics in the
Greater Toronto Area visit www.mto.gov.on.ca. To find a clinic anywhere in
Ontario, call your local police department or public health unit, listed in
the blue pages of the phone book. To find a public health unit you can also
call the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care information line at
1-800-268-1154. Other clinics are hosted by St. John Ambulance. For more
information please call St. John Ambulance directly at 416-923-8411 or visit
www.sja.ca.
Disponible en français
www.mto.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Danna O'Brien, Minister's Office, (416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158
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