Blunt backs booster seats for older children

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Grace Keenan might have to stay in a booster seat until she is 8 years old under a bill Gov. Matt Blunt promoted Wednesday. But the 5-year-old and her twin sister, Sarah, don’t mind.

The girls, who delivered thank-you notes to the governor during a bill signing event at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, said the restraints are important.

Under the bill, children can use seat belts before age 8 if they reach 80 pounds or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Previously, booster seats were required for children up to 4 years of age.

“I’m always reluctant to create government requirements, but this is a requirement that makes sense,” said Blunt, the father of a 1-year-old boy.

Blunt planned to sign the legislation into law today.

The booster seat measure had the backing of safety advocates, who say small children aren’t properly protected with a seat belt and need booster seats until they grow into belts made to fit adults.

But critics cited the inconvenience — and cost — for parents, and called it an unwarranted government intrusion on private lives.

Missouri could earn about $850,000 in federal grants because of the law. Half the money could be used to buy booster seats for poor families, and the rest would go to help with education and training car seat inspectors, Missouri Department of Transportation officials said.

The bill also toughens penalties for drivers who speed in construction zones.

The bill creates the crime of “endangerment of a highway worker,” with criteria such as going more than 15 mph over the speed limit in a work zone with a worker present, failing to stop when a worker directs a driver to do so, or intentionally striking construction barrels.

The bill also includes provisions intended to protect motorcyclists. Under the bill, drivers who don’t properly yield and are involved in fatal accidents face a $1,000 fine and could have their licenses suspended for six months.

In addition, the bill increases the penalty for motorists who don’t move over when approaching

an emergency vehicle and makes

it a felony if someone fails to stop for a school bus and a child is injured, and a higher felony if a child dies.

Blunt also planned to sign separate legislation today lowering the minimum age of blood donors to 16, with parental consent. Previously, people had to be at least 17 to donate.