Colorado's car seat rules changing Sunday
Beginning Sunday, all children in Colorado under the age of eight will be required to use a car or booster seat.
Also, any violation of the law will become a primary offense, meaning police will have the authority to pull over and ticket drivers observed breaking the law.
“Anything to make children safer is always a good move,” said police officer Anthony Santoro, with the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Child Occupant Protection Program. “I always think it’s a positive. If we can put them in a better position, I’m all for it.”
Previously, children under six had to be in a car safety seat.
State Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, sponsored Senate Bill 110, which was approved in March, said that it was a matter of being in line with the latest standards for child safety.
“It doesn’t matter, weight and height, any longer,” she said to the Denver Post. “It’s about age. If your child is under the age of eight, they need to be in a restraint system.”
While the law requires all kids under eight to be restrained in a safety seat, the Colorado Department of Transportation recommends that all children smaller than 57 inches should use a child restraint.
Colorado becomes the 26th state with laws requiring children seven and under to use car or booster seats. Tennessee and Wyoming require them up to the age of nine.
With laws varying from state to state, tourists driving in Colorado this summer will be cut some slack.
“Officers have discretion,” Santoro said. “For myself, if they’re from out of state, I’m going to inform them of the law. I’ll tell them where to get a car seat and once they have one, I’ll even offer to install it for them.”
Santoro added that the CSPD offers safety checks of car and booster seats.
“You can call any of the (four) substations at anytime and request a seat check,” he said. “We have both civilians and officers who are qualified.”
Child Operation Protection Program coordinator Phil Tellefson said that these checks are important because there is about a 75 percent misuse rate among those that bring in their seats.
Colorado child seat law changing Aug. 1
• Children ages 4-7
Must be correctly restrained in a car seat or booster seat
• Children ages 1-3
Must be correctly restrained in a car seat (not in a booster)
• Newborn to first birthday
Must be correctly restrained in a rear-facing seat in the rear seat of the vehicle if the child weighs less than 20 pounds
Child seat fitting stations in the Colorado Spring Area
• American Medical Response
719-597-1277 ext. 138
2370 N. Powers Blvd., Colorado Springs
• Child Development Center
970-333-6779
6250 Sunflower Drive, U.S. Air Force Academy
• CSPD – Falcon Division
719-444-7240
7850 Goddard St., Colorado Springs
• CSPD – Gold Hill Division
719-385-2140
955 W. Moreno, Colorado Springs
• CSPD – Sand Creek Division
719-444-7270
4125 Center Park Drive, Colorado Springs
• CSPD – Stetson Hills Division
719-444-3140
4110 Tutt Blvd., Colorado Springs
• Colorado State Patrol
719-527-5815
1480 Quail Lake Loop, Suite B, Colorado Springs
• Community Partnership for Child Development
719-635-1536, ext. 321
2330 Robinson Street, Colorado Springs
• Drive Smart Colorado Springs
719-444-7534
705 S. Nevada, Colorado Springs
• Fountain Code Enforcement
719-322-2032
116 S. Main St., Fountain
• Independent
719-495-0325
8335 Wildridge Rd, Colorado Springs
• Manitou Springs Fire Dept.
719-685-5407
606 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs
• Memorial Hospital for Children
719-365-5834
1400 E. Boulder Street, Colorado Springs
• State Farm’s Gillman Agency
719-488-4224
1120 N. Circle Drive, Colorado Springs
Source: Colorado Dept. of Transportation
