RE: Car Seats/Seat Belts

["lfontes@xxxxxxxxxxx" <lfontes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

When I gave birth in NY and Massachusetts, I was informed by the hospitals that they would not release my children to me unless there was an adequate carseat (and they loaned such seats!). Certainly seems like a more humane approach than giving people their newborns and then reporting them!
Lisa Fontes

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Carol A Burnside CBurnside@xxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 07:42:21 -0500
To: CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Car Seats/Seat Belts


Under Iowa Law there is a "blurb" under Denial of Critical Care that
includes the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle when the person
responsible for care of the child is driving recklessly or driving while
intoxicated with the child in the vehicle.  In order to be investigated
there must be credible evidence- filing of charges or credible witness.
However, this law does not specifically address seatbelts.  A question came
up in our mandatory reporter training class where OB/Peds nurses asked if
they are discharging a newborn or other child, and they accompany the
patient/family to the vehicle, and the parent(s) do not have an appropriate
car seat, are they mandated to report.  I contacted our local DHS department
and was told that they may make a report, but it probably would not be
investigated.  The only time the parents would be sited is if they were
pulled over on the way home or if they had an accident and the infant/child
was injured or killed.  I was told that the seatbelt law is a separate law-
that it is against the law to drive with a child not restrained, but unless
the child was injured or killed it is a separate issue.  Occasionally you
will see in the Public Record section of the newspaper items where a person
was charged with child endangerment from this.  Hope this helps.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Heyman [mailto:Richard.Heyman@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, June 07, 2002 9:22 AM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Cc: amyslep@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Dari Tritt
Subject: Car Seats/Seat Belts



Q: Does anyone live in a state that would substantiate 
Child Neglect for a parent's failure to ensure that children 
are in car seats/seat belts? What if it's the first time? 
I searched the "Child Abuse and Neglect State Statutes Elements" 
and saw no mention of it. Any input would be much appreciated. 
-Rick Heyman 
__________________________________________________
Richard E. Heyman, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500
(631) 632-7857
FAX: (631) 632-7876
Homepage http://www.psy.sunysb.edu/marital
RMICS Coding http://www.psy.sunysb.edu/marital/coding.htm
__________________________________________________

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