For the next week, area law enforcement agencies will be part of a statewide effort to enforce seat belt and child restraint violations around schools.
Locally, Emporia Public Schools officials have noticed more and more children aren’t properly restrained — or aren’t restrained at all — when they come to school in the morning or depart in the afternoon. Safe Kids Emporia spokesperson and Emporia Police Sgt. Lisa Sage says some of those reports have also come back to law enforcement.
Sage says a child age 8 and under has to be in a seat that’s appropriate for his height and weight. Rear-facing seats are mandated for children under age 1, and it’s recommended to keep children rear-facing for as long as possible — at least until the child outgrows the seat. Front-facing seats then take the child to age 4, when booster seats are allowed. Kids can use the seat belt once they turn 8, and they also have to be at least 4-foot-9 and 80 pounds for that to happen.
Violations can cost at least $60 plus court costs.
Click here for the Kansas Highway Patrol’s information page on child passenger safety. Residents can also call Emporia Police at 343-4200 with questions.
