By Personal Injury Attorney John M. Cooper of Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
Last year, Governor Ralph Northam signed HB 708 into law.
The law states that all children under the age of two must remain in a rear-facing child seat at all times. As of July 1, 2019, that law went into effect. Parents that do not comply with the law are not only placing their child in danger, but will also face penalties from law enforcement.
One exception to this is that a child can move to a front-facing seat when they reach the maximum weight limit of the seat, although there are others, as well. That weight limit can be found in the seat’s instruction manual, and they do vary between manufacturers.
“The stats have been out for a while now that show the smallest children are safer when they face the back of the car,” says John M. Cooper of Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. “So, this law makes a lot of sense. Children really are our most precious cargo, and we must do everything we can to ensure they are safe while traveling with them.”
Children, may also face the front of a vehicle before the age of two if a doctor has deemed a rear-facing seat unsafe due to a child’s size, medical condition, or physical unfitness. When this is the case, parents must carry a signed note from a doctor in their vehicle at all times.
The new law changes the old one, which only stated children under the age of eight must sit in a child-restraining seat at all times. However, the penalties have remained the same. Those caught in violation of the law will face a $50 fine for a first offense. Subsequent offenses carry a $500 fine, although those offenses must occur on a different day, allowing parents time to purchase a proper seat.
With the new law, Virginia joins nine other states that have already implemented similar laws that hope to keep very young children safe in the event of a car accident. Those states include California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
Recent Stories
“Google map of all the embassies that are open this Saturday” by Nathaniel Rakich From a press release: “Travel the world through food, art, dance, fashion, music, innovations and manufactured…
Thanks to readers for sharing the latest at the Dupont Circle fountain this afternoon: “What’s going on? No water today.”
709 Kennedy Street, NW From an email: “Soup Up, located at 709 Kennedy Street, NW, is now serving brunch every Sunday from Mother’s Day, May 12 thru September 29, 2024….
If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and…
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
St Mary Armenian Church Annual Spring Food Festival
Come hungry and leave happy! Experience culture, community, and cuisine all in one place. See you at the festival!!!!
Comedy Cabaret
Kick up your heels at Bad Medicine’s COMEDY CABARET extravaganza at the DC Improv Comedy Club on Tuesday, May 21st. Revel in the sights and sounds of this entertaining musical revue, with songs, dance and sketch comedy that will have
