New Jersey Nanny State Mandates Car Seats for 8 Yr OIds

New Jersey Laws

[d-back]

Ten bucks for a booster seat? My eye. Try thirty to a hundred.

That one costs fifty.

And if you want to stuff your seven year old in one, 12B, be my guest. Just don't tell me to put my seven year old into one. I mean, seven year olds are in second grade, for cryin' out loud. Who's the parent here--me or the State of New Jersey?

Bear in mind that New Jersey's Supreme Court found that it was "unconstitutional" to require abortionists to notify a parent before sucking a baby out of your teenage girl's uterus. This new "seatbelt" law now requires drivers to make sure their seventeen year old daughter is wearing a seatbelt, but that same parent has no "right" to know if an abortionist is going to operate on his daughter.

Old enough for abortion, not old enough to sit in a car without a seatbelt. Go figure that one.

[dead]

It sounds like your daughter still needs a car seat, and you are right to provide it.

But should my friend, who has a six-year-old, 75lb son be required by law to treat his bruiser in the same manner? This kid could eat a oncoming car.

[dead]

We were six kids, stacked like cordwood with the luggage, in the back of a Ford Fairlane station wagon, barreling down the turnpike to the Jersey shore.

Now my dad would be headed to prison, especially after they found out he had beer in the cooler.

[Dan C]

As a kid we had an official store bought station wagon matress in the back of the wagon for us kids to sleep/play on during long trips. One of the best "games" we played was to continually dive over the back seat into the way back...and back again. Hmmm... I wonder if the statue of limitations has run out on my parent's obvious and repeated instances of child endangerment?

[gridlock]

Every person operating a motor vehicle, other than a school bus...

If you are transporting your children, no amount of burdensome regulation is too great for you to bear.

If we are transporting your children, we'll handle them like the gorrilla handles the suitcase in an old American Tourister commercial, because we just don't care.

[AppyPappy]

When he reaches the age of consent, he can do whatever he wants. How is the child harmed by being in a car seat vs the harm for not having a child in a car seat?

We just had two children killed in a car wreck locally. Both were thrown from the car. No seat belt. What do you do? Do you say "If you want to kill your kids, that's your own business?". If you can't mandate car seats for kids, can you mandate seat belts for kids?

BTW for those asking, we give away car seats around here. All you have to do is ask for one.

[AppyPappy]

personal choice in our society

A child cannot make that choice. That aren't old enough.

[TLBSHOW]

more BS from jersey

[Dr. Frank fan]

This is actually a good idea.

Why are there always one or two people on these threads who can't tell the difference between "it is a good idea for people to do X" and "it is a good idea for the law to FORCE people to do X"?

12B, it is a Good Idea for people to get a certain amount of exercise each day. Does that mean it should become law, with under-exercisers cited and/or arrested?

Let me know....

[Dr. Frank fan]

If it is the person's right not to wear a seatbelt, then should the hospital should have the right not to treat, since the patient's irresponsibility caused the trauma?

In fact, the answer to this question is Yes.

[AppyPappy]

And what are the chances of that being true in the real world?

[Roy Tucker]

So who makes the choice the parents or the State? I vote for the parents.

[d-back]

Oh, but they do care, Gridlock. It's for the children.

That's the argument of the creeping Nanny State, isn't it. The State has an interest in the well being of children, so it can pass a law that positively impacts their well being.

Which leads to other possibilities: Why doesn't New Jersey pass a law requiring that parents feed their children vegetables at dinner? Everyone knows that kids need vegetables--let's just make it the law.

Why doesn't New Jersey require that children be taken to the zoo once a year? How's this one look:

"WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey finds that the mental, emotional, and psychological well being of children is significantly enhanced by seeing animals at the zoo; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey finds that there are numerous zoos located within the state, with reasonable entry fees and nice snack bars;

NOW, it is hereby enacted that all children shall be taken to the zoo by their parent and/or guardian not less than one (1) time per calendar year, from the age of two years to the age of ten years.

Violation of this statute shall be a Class A misdemeanor."

Hey 12B, got any laws like that in Germany? Should you?

[Woodman]

The 64 Ford Galaxy XL my parents had didn't have seat belts in the rear seat. They were optional and I assume no one wanted to pay for it.

My 7 year old is tall and thin. His hieght makes a Booster or Saftey seat "Unsafe" for him because his ears are above the back of the seat. He also only weighs about 60 Lbs. Now what am I supposed to do when I cross the Bridge into NJ? BTW I do have a belt adjuster in place to keep it down low on his waist and change the cross angle on his chest.

[Capt.YankeeMike]

you must have some little, tiny kids...maybe feed em more?

[Dr. Frank fan]

Hey, she asked... :)