The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Metropolitan Police Department have kicked off a 30-day campaign to educate drivers about DC’s enhanced new child passenger safety law. Over the next month, Metropolitan Police officers will be issuing only warning citations to motorists who violate the new law. After the 30-day warning period, around December 22, officers will aggressively enforce the law, which carries stiff new penalties.
The Child Restraint Amendment Act of 2002 requires, for the first time, that children less than eight years old must be properly seated in an installed infant, toddler or booster child safety seat, and booster seats must be used with both a lap and shoulder belt. Previous District law required safety seats only for children under the age of three.
The new law also increases penalties for drivers who do not properly secure child passengers. For first offenders, the fine has been increased from $55 to $75, plus two points on the operator’s license. In lieu of the fine, first-time offenders can choose to pay $25 and attend a child restraint safety class. The class, plus the $75 fine, are mandatory for second-time offenders. Fines increase to $125 for a third offense and $150 for fourth and subsequent offenses.
“This new law maintains the District of Columbia as a leader in highway safety, especially when it comes to protecting our children,” said DDOT Director Dan Tangherlini. “Through progressive laws, consistent enforcement and strong public education, we are setting the standard for child passenger safety here in our nation’s capital.”
Added Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey, “While today marks the beginning of a 30-day warning period for enforcing the new child passenger safety law, come December 22nd, the warning notices will be replaced by tickets. Our officers will enforce the law fairly but aggressively, because there is absolutely no reason why every child should not be properly restrained every time they ride in an automobile in our city.”
Tangherlini and Ramsey thanked the DC Council—in particular, Councilmembers Adrian Fenty (Ward 4) and Carol Schwartz (At-Large)—for its leadership in strengthening DC’s child passenger safety laws. Mayor Anthony A. Williams signed the Child Restraint Amendment Act earlier this fall.
DC law continues to require that all children ages 8 and older, as well as all adults—both driver and passengers, must wear their seat belts at all times. The penalties for seat belt violations are $55 for child passengers and $50 for adults, plus two points on the operator’s license.
Under the new law, any fines in excess of $55 will be directed to fund the Child Passenger Safety Program, administered by DDOT, in conjunction with the MPD, the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles. The new funding will be used to establish at least one child passenger safety seat fitting station in each of the eight wards in the District. In addition, children of low-income families will be provided with child restraint systems for free or at a minimal cost.
In addition, automobile rental companies are required to inform each customer of the provisions of the new law and to provide educational materials that will be supplied by DDOT.
The MPD will provide information about the new law during seat belt and child passenger safety seat checkpoints scheduled throughout the city during Thanksgiving week. The checkpoints are part of the national Operation ABC (America Buckles-up Children) Mobilization.
More information on the Child Safety Seat Program which is operated by DDOT can be found here.
