Lawmakers Say Buckle Up Your Kids

Several House members argued Thursday there was no need to require people to provide safety restraints for young children traveling in motor vehicles.

“Leave the responsibility where it belongs, with the parents,” said Rep. Tom Dorr, R-Coeur d’Alene.

But the House voted 49-21 for a bill expanding coverage of Idaho’s child safety restraint law and sent it to Gov. Phil Batt. It cleared the Senate 25-8.

Current state law applies only to parents or guardians operating a motor vehicle. They are responsible for putting any child under the age of 4 or under 40 pounds in a safety restraint.

The bill on its way to the governor covers all operators of non-commercial motor vehicles. It also eliminates a section that says violations of the law can be dismissed if a vehicle owner provides proof that he or she possesses a required safety seat.

“It might be a little bit of trouble, maybe,” said Rep. Robbi King, R-Glenns Ferry. “Those kids can’t protect themselves. There is no reason that a child shouldn’t be in a safety seat.”