Car seat law to be enforced Car seat law to be enforced (January 14, 2005)

Pleasanton police will be keeping on eye on children in vehicles, as they enforce recent car seat law changes.

The Police Department reported that the new laws, effective Jan. 1, require all children under 6 years old or weighing less than 60 pounds to sit in the back seat of vehicles.

There are several exceptions to this law, police said. Exceptions are made for those vehicles without a rear seat, such as pickup trucks; rear seats facing jump seats; and rear seats facing the back of the vehicle. Exceptions may be made for car seats physically unable to be secured in the back seat; if the back seats are already occupied by children under 12 years; or for medical reasons. Medical reasons must be supported by documentation signed by a doctor and shown to the law enforcement officer, police said.

Police caution parents that children under 1 year of age should never be seated in the front as well as children weighing less than 20 pounds or secured in a rear-facing carrier or safety seat.

The Police Department plans to target car seat compliance, particularly before and after school, in the coming weeks. Parents with questions about the car seat law should contact either the Pleasanton Police Department or the Department of Motor Vehicles. -Teresa C. Brown

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