Tiffany’s Law

Tiffany’s Law, also known as the New York State (NYS) Child Passenger Protection Act, is a significant piece of legislation designed to enhance the safety of children in motor vehicles. This law, named after Tiffany Heitkamp, a child who tragically lost her life in a car crash, aims to ensure that all children are properly secured in child safety seats while traveling in a motor vehicle. Tiffany’s Law addresses various aspects of child passenger safety, including age and size requirements, as well as the proper use of child restraint systems.

One fundamental aspect of Tiffany’s Law is the establishment of age and size-based guidelines for child passengers. It mandates that all children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system. This provision is rooted in research demonstrating that rear-facing car seats offer better protection for infants and young toddlers in the event of a crash. For children between the ages of two and four, they must be secured in either a rear-facing seat or a forward-facing seat with a harness system, depending on their size and weight.

Moreover, Tiffany’s Law outlines specific requirements for older children as well. Children who are between four and eight years old and are less than four feet nine inches in height are required to be secured in an appropriate booster seat. The law stresses the importance of transitioning children from one type of restraint system to another as they grow and develop.

Tiffany’s Law is intended to serve as a crucial measure for enhancing child passenger safety in NYS. It is important for caregivers and parents to familiarize themselves with the law’s provisions to ensure that children are adequately protected while traveling in motor vehicles. Complying with the law’s requirements is not only a legal obligation but, more importantly, a step towards reducing the risk of injury to children in the event of an accident.