New law requires parents to get out the booster seats

By Jamie Vaznis, Globe Staff

The kids may balk. But don’t throw away those booster seats yet.

Children will have to ride in baby seats or booster seats until they turn 8 years old, under a new law signed today by Governor Deval Patrick. (Though some will be able to avoid the requirement, if they are at least four feet nine inches tall.)

"This is a common sense piece of legislation that will go a long way in ensuring more children will be protected on the road," said Cyndi Roy, a governor's spokeswoman.

The purpose of the booster seat, which is used as children get larger, is to position the safety belt across the child’s shoulder rather than the neck.

Under the previous law, children were only required to be in child seats until they turned 5 or weighed more than 40 pounds.

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