Texas House Bill HB3794

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the securing of a child passenger in a motor vehicle.

Impact

The enactment of HB 3794 is expected to have a significant impact on state laws regarding child passenger safety. It introduces a mandatory requirement for securing young children in appropriate safety seats, thereby potentially reducing the risk of injury in motor vehicle accidents. This change in law applies only to offenses committed after the effective date of the act, which is set for September 1, 2009. Consequently, existing regulations prior to that date remain in effect for offenses committed before this implementation.

Summary

House Bill 3794 addresses the issue of child safety in vehicles by amending the Transportation Code, specifically Section 545.412. The bill stipulates that operators of passenger vehicles must secure children under eight years old in a child passenger safety seat system. The height requirement for exempting children from this law is specified as those taller than four feet, nine inches. This legislation aims to enhance the safety of young passengers during vehicle operation.

Contention

While HB 3794 primarily focuses on child passenger safety and is generally supported for its intent to protect children, there may be concerns regarding enforcement and compliance. Critics could argue about the accessibility of child safety seats and the potential for disparities in enforcement which may affect low-income families disproportionately. Additionally, the bill does grant law enforcement the discretion to issue warnings instead of citations until January 1, 2010, which could lead to debates on how effectively the law will be communicated and adhered to during that initial period.