**MEDIA RELEASE** Representative Steinberg Supports Child Safety Legislation

[Hollis, Mark]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Marlene Taylor

February 3, 2010                                                                                                 (850) 488-0690     

 

Rep. Richard Steinberg supportS

 CHILD SAFETY LEGISLATION

 

TALLAHASSEE, FL --- Representative Richard L. Steinberg (D-Miami Beach), Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) and Representative Richard Glorioso (R-Plant City) joined forces yesterday to support the child passenger safety bill (House Bill 387/Senate Bill 316) for the 2010 legislative session.  The bills will require children ages 4 through 7 to sit in a booster seat when riding in a car. 

 

The National Transportation Safety Board last year urged Florida to join the rest of the country by passing booster seat legislation.  Florida is one of only three states that have not yet enacted a booster seat law.  Booster seats lower the risk of injury to children in motor vehicle crashes by 59 percent compared to the use of seat belts alone.

 

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday and has been referred to the Roads, Bridges and Ports Policy Committee in the House.  

 

“Florida law requires children under 4 and everyone over 7 years of age to be safely buckled up, but fails to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Representative Steinberg.  “I look forward to working with my colleagues in a bi-partisan effort this year to finally pass booster seat legislation that will prevent deaths and injuries to children.”

 

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