Traffic Safety Facts no, 331 (August 2007)

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15256032007PDFBriefUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationTransAnalytics, LLCUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationWisconsinMichiganChild restraint systemsState lawsTraffic law enforcementBefore and after studiesBooster seatsSiegler, JohnOn June 1, 2006, Wisconsin enacted a child passenger safety law requiring children between 4 and 8 years old or who weigh between 40 and 79 pounds and are no taller than 4 feet 9 inches to be restrained in booster seats. The law does not require the booster seat to be placed in a back seat. During a six-month grace period, police issued written warnings instead of citations for first-time violations. Beginning January 1, 2007, police issued citations for violations. Prior to June 1, 2006, Wisconsin law required all children under 4 to be in child restraints, and children between 4 and 8 years old to be in child restraints or safety belts. While Wisconsin's child passenger safety (CPS) law is a primary enforcement law, meaning police can write tickets to parents and care givers of improperly restrained children, Wisconsin's adult seat belt law is a secondary enforcement law. Police can only give an adult seat belt violation if a driver is pulled over for another violation. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation developed a one-page information sheet and card to provide details of the new law for law enforcement personnel and the public. The Wisconsin Bureau of Transportation Safety also ran an article on the new law in its May newsletter. The American Automobile Association (AAA) of Wisconsin and Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW) held a news conference in Madison on June 1 in conjunction with SKW car seat checks around the State. In order to examine the effectiveness of this law to increase booster seat use among children of booster seat age, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contracted with TransAnalytics, LLC, and its subcontractor, Program Professionals, Inc., to conduct an observational survey of booster seat use in Wisconsin before and after the law changed.130