Thread: Child Restraint Law changes

The Mrs saw a funny sight the other morning outside the shops.
An older Falcoon station wagon with many more occupants than seats,kids stacked in the load area.
A customer of the general store approached the driver and pointed out it was illeagal and they need to make other arrangements.The driver jumped out only to have the off duty cop flash his badge in his face.
They waited around for ages for another vehicle to turn up.Bet they didnt have licences etc and didnt dare move.
He called his workmates on the mobile in front of them before leaving them with it
Andrew

RTA adverts in today's paper and this evening's news still said 1st March for the new laws.

However, the news mentioned a period of grace.

Originally Posted by Ace

hi guys, got this email at work today, thought those on here with kiddies might be interested. laws come into effect on the 1st of July 2010, they were supposed to come into affect on the 1st of March but have put back for what ever reason.

Info is as follows;

- Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.

- Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.

- Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.

- Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows (so ok in single cab utes).

- Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats
are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.

It can be a vague area and alot of people dont know fully where the kids can and cant sit so hope this clears up an grey areas. it was news to me aswell, my young bloke is 5 and he has been sitting in the front seat of the disco with his booster seat for a while, turns out as of the 1st of July this is a no no.

Sitting in the front with the booster seat has been a nono for a long time but not advertised (unless no aribags and no second row).

Could you enlighten on it being put back as all the offical RTA stuff still states it starts today with a 3 month grace look Child restraints

I assume these new laws are NSW only...
Last I read in the NT kids over 12 months could sit anywhere anyhow...
Only in the NT....

Originally Posted by Oldisthenewnew

I assume these new laws are NSW only...
Last I read in the NT kids over 12 months could sit anywhere anyhow...
Only in the NT....

In the NT all kids must be strapped in unless there is a slab of beer in the back, then the slab gets preference .

yes they are for NSW only but other states have these laws in already from what i have read

Originally Posted by Banjo_pluker

Sitting in the front with the booster seat has been a nono for a long time but not advertised (unless no aribags and no second row).

Could you enlighten on it being put back as all the offical RTA stuff still states it starts today with a 3 month grace look Child restraints

After the highway patrol Sgt sent the email with the info i posted saying it was the 1st of March 2010 that the new laws come in another email was sent around to all officers buy our universal memo system that is used to update all police in the state of various issues saying that it had been put off until the 1st of July. It did not state why though.

My suggestion is to go with the 1st of march date to be safe.

Matt

My thought after I posted was that why would the RTA change the date when they can just say they did not get around to it.

Thanks for the info Ace