Woodbury, N.Y-- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, joined by Legislator Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) and Commanding Officer of the 2nd Precinct Inspector Richard Meyer, today reminded all Nassau residents that the new State law requiring child safety seats for all car passengers under the age of seven went into effect March 27, 2005. The current seat belt law requiring children under the age of four to be restrained in a federally approved child safety seat has been modified to include the use of booster seats for children up to the age of seven. Individuals found in violation of this law will be subject to a civil fine ranging between $25 and $100 and three points on your license.

County Executive Suozzi and Legislator Diane Yatauro joined by, from left to right, Sara Neuman, 6, of Plainview; Michael Barbuzano, 5, of Plainedge; and Emily Guida, 5, of Plainview; demonstrate how to use booster seats.

"This new law is a key step in keeping our children safer," County Executive Suozzi said. "According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of four and seven. Any measure we can take to protect our children while traveling the roadways is worthwhile."

Booster seats should be used by children who have outgrown their child safety seats and are not yet tall enough to use the vehicle's safety belt system effectively. The regular shoulder and lap belt are not designed to adequately safeguard smaller children. A booster seat, when used in combination with the car's shoulder and lap belts, prevents the lap belt from riding up on the stomach and the shoulder belt from cutting into the neck.

"Statistics associated with traffic incidents involving children are way too high," said Legislator Yatauro. "It is my hope that this new law will change that."

Thirty three hundred (3,300) children died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States between 1994 and 2002; 79 of these deaths occurred in New York. More than 95 percent of these children were either unrestrained or restrained solely by adult seat belts. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's study indicates that only 6 percent of children in this age group are being placed in booster seats.

According to the latest statistics from the Partners for Child Passenger Safety, booster seats provide a reduction in injury risk, including serious brain and spinal cord injury, by 59 percent when compared to children up to the age of seven who are restrained only by seat belts.