Safe Kids Campaign 05/03/99

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
CHARLES M. CHAI JR.
PHONE: 961-2247
MAY 3, 1999

MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii County Police Department will be stepping up its enforcement of child restraint laws next week as part of National Safe Kids Week in Hawaii.

The week, to be observed May 2-8, 1999, is aimed at focusing public awareness on the necessity of properly securing infants and toddlers in car seats.

Studies have shown that young children involved in traffic accidents who are not in some kind of safety restraint are more likely to be killed, to suffer permanent disability or to receive serious injuries than those who are sitting in a safety seat.

The weeklong observance is also aimed at making the public aware that it is against the law to transport children under the age of four without a proper child safety seat or seat belt.

In conjunction with Safe Kids Week, the Lehua Jaycees will offer a free inspection of child safety seats, by appointment only, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday (May 1, 1999) in the area of the Seven Seas Luau House at the Hoolulu Complex. For an appointment, call the Lehua Jaycees at 935-0555.

A Department of Health program, “Partners for Safe Keikis” will further assist law enforcement in teaching the public to correctly install car seats at roadside enforcement projects.

According to state law, Chapter 291-11.5 (HRS), it is against the law to transport a child under 3 years old unless “the child is properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system approved by the United States Department of Transportation at the time of its manufacture.”

Drivers must see that a child 3 to 4 years old is “properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system approved by the United States Department of Transportation at the time of its manufacture or ensure that the child is restrained by a seat belt assembly.”

For a first conviction, violators are subject to a fine of not more than $100 for a first conviction, are required to attend a child passenger restraint system safety class at least four hours long and must pay a $50 driver education assessment.

For a second conviction, violators are subject to a fine of not more than $200, plus they are required attend the class and pay the driver education assessment if they haven’t previously attended the class.

For the third and subsequent conviction, violators are subject to a fine of not more than $500, plus they are required to attend the class and pay the driver education assessment if they haven’t previously attended the class.

For those who want to obtain a copy of the law, it is available on the Hawaii County Police Department’s web site at <www.hawaiipolice.com> under “News Releases.”

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