By Tom Flanigan
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-883380.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Supporters think this will be the year Florida finally makes booster seats a legal requirement for young vehicle passengers. Republican State Representative Rich Glorioso of Plant City says the crashes first responders dread most are those involving small children.
"Every time they go to an accident, and there's a small kid in there that wasn't restrained right and he's seriously injured or killed, it's a horrible experience."
Glorioso says that is why he's sponsoring a bill to make car booster seats mandatory for all passengers between the ages of four and seven. Florida is now one of just three states with no such law. Senate sponsor Thad Altman, Republican of Melbourne, says that removes a longstanding argument against the bill.
"You're not going to have a situation that people are going to be driving to the state without having their kids properly secured, and if they've done it, they've broken the law in several other states on their way to get here."
The booster seat bill has failed in nine previous legislative sessions in Florida. With the state finally passing a primary enforcement seat belt law last year, Altman and Glorioso have high hopes for passage during the session that begins next month.