Give Your Grand Strand Family Vacation a Boost
If you're driving to Myrtle Beach for your summer family vacation, chances are you're coming from a state with a child booster seat requirement. Thirty-eight of the 50 states have them, in fact, including South Carolina and most of its immediate surrounding states that account for a generous portion of the Grand Strand's 14 million annual visitors.
But the laws vary state to state, and depending on your child's age, height or weight, what makes you legal in West Virginia can get you ticketed in Tennessee. In fact, each state you pass through from Morgantown, West Virginia en route to Myrtle Beach will have a different requirement - from none in West Virginia to up to age 9 in Tennessee, to up to age 8 in North Carolina to up to age 6 in South Carolina.
Confusing? It can be, but it doesn't have to be. So whether you're driving in from a state with no such requirement (West Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, Ohio or Michigan, to name a few) or one with differing criteria, play it safe: get a booster before you hit the road. A general guideline that might help is knowing that for all the age differences, most states usually piggy-back it with similar height (typically 57 inches or less) or weight criteria (usually under 80 pounds).
For state-by-state comparisons, you can use these color-coded maps to get a quick read. For more detailed comparisons, Saferoads.org offers a Booster Seat Law Chart that stipulates each state's age, height and weight requirements; fines for violating state law; and more.
Don't have a booster seat? Simple, no-back versions run about 20 bucks, and can be purchased at your nearby Target or Wal-Mart or ordered online.
There are no comments posted. Add yours below.