Updated child restraint legislation designed to save morechildren from injury or death in traffic accidents takes effectnext Tuesday.

The amendment to the child safety restraint law says a childbetween the ages of 4 and 7, who is less than 4 feet, 9 inches inheight, and who weighs less than 65 pounds, must ride in a boosterseat so that the safety belt can properly protect them.

“This adds the 4, 5, and 6 year-olds that are less than 4’9″ orweigh less than 65 lbs.,” Boyd said. “Those have to use a boosterseat.”

Officials said some smaller children, when belted in a regularseat belt, were injuring their faces on the seat belt on impactbecause of the positioning of the shoulder restraint. A boosterseat puts them at the level to be properly protected by the seatbelt.

Meanwhile, Boyd said, children from birth to 4 years old must bein a full car seat.

“After 8 years old is up to the parents,” said Boyd, adding thatthe current laws require passengers in vehicles to be belted.

Non-compliance with the new booster seat law is a misdemeanorand carries with it a $25 fine. Boyd said a driver can be cited foreach child who is unrestrained.

But drivers have always been the ones responsible forunrestrained passengers, Boyd said.

“That’s always the way the seat belt law has been written forseat belts and child restraints,” he said. “Even if you have anadult passenger who is not restrained, then the driver can becited.”

The only exception to the rule, Boyd said, is a passenger withan excuse from a doctor stating medical reasons not to wear one.Those are rare, though, he said.

“I’ve never seen one,” Boyd said.