Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- There has been a marked increase in the number of youngsters who are being placed in child safety seats in cars, but Nevada still trails the national average, officials announced Monday.
The agency said Monday that a statewide survey ending in July found that 63 percent of children who should be in car safety seats in Nevada were in those seats. That's a marked improvement compared with July 2002's rate of 37 percent, but the national average is 95 percent, the Nevada Department of Public Safety noted Monday.
And, Chuck Abbott, chief of the traffic safety office, said, "9 out of 10 child safety seats are installed incorrectly" in Nevada.
"Our technicians see compatibility problems with the seat and the vehicle, the wrong seat for the size of the child or the parents not following the manufacturer's and vehicle owner's manual instruction."
Children under 5 years old and 40 pounds must be secured in a seat. Motorists could face fines of up to $100. Starting next June, the law will change to require children up to age 6 and 60 pounds be in safety seats, and maximum fines for violators will rise to $500.
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