This law, also known as The Anton Skeen Act ,
is one of the most comprehensive child restraint laws in the nation.
It requires the use of booster seats for older children.

In 2000, Washington was the first state in the nation to pass this type of law.

Key provisions of the law:

Children under the age of 16 years must be restrained
in a vehicle according to the following steps:

• 1 year of age or under or weighing less than 20 pounds:
a rear facing infant seat.

• Between 1 - 4 years old or 20 - 40 pounds:
a forward facing child safety seat.

• Between 4 - 6 years old or 40 - 60 pounds:
a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.

• 6 years old or 60 pounds and greater:
a seatbelt.

NOTE: Doctors and safety experts recommend that children ride in booster
seats until the lap and shoulder belt fit right, usually when they are at least 4'9" tall,
or around 8 years old or 80 pounds.

Tickets will cost $86.00 for each improperly restrained child,
including if the child safety seat harness is not buckled, or if
the older child has put the shoulder beltbehind his back.
Shoulder belts must be used with booster seats.
If you do not have shoulder belts in your car, you are exempt
from the requirements of the new law.

The law was the work of a bi-partisan legislative effort
spurred on by a Walla Walla parent, Autumn Alexander Skeen.
Autumn lost her four-year-old son, Anton Skeen in a rollover collision.
Anton was using a seat belt in accordance with state law at the time.
Yet, because seat belts are built for adult bodies,
he slid out of his seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle
and crushed in the collision.