New car seat law in Florida..?

[gtpoohbear]

We have taken cabs at WDW and other places with kids younger than that and never had a problem. I don't know if normal car seat laws apply to cabs, but I've never had a cab driver glance twice at my kids before putting them in.

Yes, I get that it's ideal to have them in a car seat, but we make decisions every day that are not ideal. We have to make the best with what we have. And at some point, practicality wins out. After all, most in our generation never rode in car seat a day in our life.

No way would I consider lugging a car seat around all day so I could use it on a 10-minute cab ride,

I really doubt you'll have any trouble, regardless of what the law is.

 

[Mfisc]

I can't cite the studies but those that do these things have determined that buses are no safer with car seats or seat belts. Which is why school buses have neither. Nor public buses

Yea and now that I think about it more I guess a Bus would be safer in any "small" Accidents due to its size over being a passenger in a car without proper seating.. Obv any major accident in a bus you are in big trouble but I would think percentage wise you are better

 

[BigAlsGal]

We have taken cabs at WDW and other places with kids younger than that and never had a problem. I don't know if normal car seat laws apply to cabs, but I've never had a cab driver glance twice at my kids before putting them in.

Yes, I get that it's ideal to have them in a car seat, but we make decisions every day that are not ideal. We have to make the best with what we have. And at some point, practicality wins out. After all, most in our generation never rode in car seat a day in our life.

No way would I consider lugging a car seat around all day so I could use it on a 10-minute cab ride,

I really doubt you'll have any trouble, regardless of what the law is.

 

[Disfan1968]

Been reading this pretty carefully because I am on a split stay, going from OKW to AoA and was planning to take a taxi to transfer hotels. As I am using DME from airport and busing for everything else I had not realized this was potentially an issue as I had been told in passing by someone car seats would not be needed for a transfer of this nature. Kids in my case are 4 & 3.

So I am trying to get a sense here... At first this thread had me thinking I had an issue, but at the very end a couple posters implied people regularly use taxis at Disney without car seats.

What is the real deal here...?

 

[Mfisc]

The Real deal is that YES the law does require that any children under 5 needs to be in a Child seat/booster ect,,, But in Cabs it is not the Cab drivers responsibility for the law to be followed... its up to the Parent... Yes many people do ride without in a Cab here, Yes drivers do let them and are not breaking the law by doing so... BUT a parent or guardian can be ticketed if they are pulled over, And it is a Primary offense from my understanding so they can be pulled over for that reason only...

Atleast this is my understanding of the Law below

(6) The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare, as defined in s. 39.01(47), to comply with the requirements of this section.

(47) “Other person responsible for a child’s welfare” includes the child’s legal guardian or foster parent; an employee of any school, public or private child day care center, residential home, institution, facility, or agency; a law enforcement officer employed in any facility, service, or program for children that is operated or contracted by the Department of Juvenile Justice; or any other person legally responsible for the child’s welfare in a residential setting; and also includes an adult sitter or relative entrusted with a child’s care. For the purpose of departmental investigative jurisdiction, this definition does not include the following persons when they are acting in an official capacity: law enforcement officers, except as otherwise provided in this subsection; employees of municipal or county detention facilities; or employees of the Department of Corrections.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

I hope that helps answer some of your questions Disfan

 

[Planogirl]

The Real deal is that YES the law does require that any children under 5 needs to be in a Child seat/booster ect,,, But in Cabs it is not the Cab drivers responsibility for the law to be followed... its up to the Parent... Yes many people do ride without in a Cab here, Yes drivers do let them and are not breaking the law by doing so... BUT a parent or guardian can be ticketed if they are pulled over, And it is a Primary offense from my understanding so they can be pulled over for that reason only...

Atleast this is my understanding of the Law below

(6) The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare, as defined in s. 39.01(47), to comply with the requirements of this section.

(47) “Other person responsible for a child’s welfare” includes the child’s legal guardian or foster parent; an employee of any school, public or private child day care center, residential home, institution, facility, or agency; a law enforcement officer employed in any facility, service, or program for children that is operated or contracted by the Department of Juvenile Justice; or any other person legally responsible for the child’s welfare in a residential setting; and also includes an adult sitter or relative entrusted with a child’s care. For the purpose of departmental investigative jurisdiction, this definition does not include the following persons when they are acting in an official capacity: law enforcement officers, except as otherwise provided in this subsection; employees of municipal or county detention facilities; or employees of the Department of Corrections.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

I hope that helps answer some of your questions Disfan

In the link your provided, I noticed that Section 1a says:

For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

It's interesting that they list a seat belt.

 

[nat8199]

This is why we don't take Taxis at Disney. We use bus transportation as part of the charm of Disney is NOT having to worry about car seats and buckling kids in. My kids will be 4, 4, and just-turned 6 next time we go, all average sized. I would never consider taking them in a van taxi without carseats for them all.

 

[Indio]

Just ride the bus. You'll make your ADR's on time and won't have to worry about car seats.

 

[puffkin]

Just rent a car and bring your car seats from home. Problem solved

I fly all the time with carseats and boosters. Its not that bad. Cars are super cheap to rent in Florida. Parking is free if staying at a resort. WDW is super easy to navigate, as is the airport. Not having to deal with the busses is PRICELESS.

With all the other things to deal with on a WDW trip, I would just eliminate the area of biggest frustration, which is transportation. I will NEVER EVER EVER do Disney without a car again. Just not worth it to me.

 

[Disfan1968]

Just rent a car and bring your car seats from home. Problem solved

I fly all the time with carseats and boosters. Its not that bad. Cars are super cheap to rent in Florida. Parking is free if staying at a resort. WDW is super easy to navigate, as is the airport. Not having to deal with the busses is PRICELESS.

With all the other things to deal with on a WDW trip, I would just eliminate the area of biggest frustration, which is transportation. I will NEVER EVER EVER do Disney without a car again. Just not worth it to me.

Honestly we really enjoy the buses and didn't have any bad experiences with them when we used them on our last trip. We are there for 12 days and are not as concerned with taking a little time to go from place to place as we might be otherwise.

As I said in my post above we were really only looking to use the taxi to move on the morning of our split stay. Not really interesting in renting a car for that purpose alone. I suppose we'll just take a bus for the transfer (from OKW to HS, and then HS to AoA) and have Disney transfer our luggage from resort to resort. Not ideal, but it is what it is.

 

[GillianP1301]

Just rent a car and bring your car seats from home. Problem solved

I fly all the time with carseats and boosters. Its not that bad. Cars are super cheap to rent in Florida. Parking is free if staying at a resort. WDW is super easy to navigate, as is the airport. Not having to deal with the busses is PRICELESS.

With all the other things to deal with on a WDW trip, I would just eliminate the area of biggest frustration, which is transportation. I will NEVER EVER EVER do Disney without a car again. Just not worth it to me.

This is my recommendation as well. There is also the option of doing a booster rental with the car, if you don't want to lug your own on the plane with you (this is what we do). If you are really concerned about having a booster in the cab (which I would be at 6 and under), then I think having a car with the seats in it would be the way to go since I would have no idea how you'd get around the issue of lugging boosters around WDW with you at whatever destination the cab is taking you.

 

[MrInfinity]

(6) The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare, as defined in s. 39.01(47), to comply with the requirements of this section.

My understanding is that this means the ticket goes to the parent instead of the taxi driver. Still need the car seat/booster.

Interesting. I read it differently. "The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffer-driven taxi" is pretty definitive. The requirements do not apply. There is no ticket to the parent vs driver question because the requirements themselves don't apply. No requirements, no ticket.

"It is the obligation of a parent, guardian, or other to comply"... I read this as clarifying who/when should comply. That is, a parent must comply... when a parent is driving their kids. But again falling back to the previous sentence, when riding in a taxi, none of it applies.

We have asked in taxis elsewhere too. Kids have not needed car seats.

Whether you feel your safety is at an acceptable level in such cases is up to you personally but I would not factor in the risk of you getting ticketed as a passenger into the decision.

 

[gtpoohbear]

http://disneyparksmomspanel.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?pgm=2&pid=94&cid=97&qid=186378

Disney Moms-panel question that might help...

 

[ParrotBill]

In a search around the web for other explanations and official sites, it's quite clear that for a child age 4-5, a seat belt is adequate.

The exclusion for taxis and limos is complicated by the last sentence saying the Parent is responsible. I can find interpretations in both directions.

I can tell you that it is very common for parents to take car seats with them, and equally common for parent to take the view that taxis and buses are excluded and take the short trip without a car seat.

Some taxis carry car seats; most do not. You will often wait longer for a car seat to be dispatched. If you carry your own, your taxi may not have LATCH anchors or even working seat belts and then you wait again for a taxi that does.

 

[iheartdisney123]

There is one exception to the new law, children ages 4 or 5 may ride with just a seat belt if the driver is not a member of their immediate family and if they're being given a ride as a favor or in an emergency.

http://m.wesh.com/news/florida-booster-seat-laws-for-children-to-change-in-january/25741288

 

[puffkin]

Honestly we really enjoy the buses and didn't have any bad experiences with them when we used them on our last trip. We are there for 12 days and are not as concerned with taking a little time to go from place to place as we might be otherwise.

As I said in my post above we were really only looking to use the taxi to move on the morning of our split stay. Not really interesting in renting a car for that purpose alone. I suppose we'll just take a bus for the transfer (from OKW to HS, and then HS to AoA) and have Disney transfer our luggage from resort to resort. Not ideal, but it is what it is.

I wonder how much a towncar would be? You can request car seats with them, plus they can be arranged for a set time in advance and you can take all your luggage with you. We have done split stays in the past, and it was a huge hassle and the one time our bags didn't arrive at our new resort until 8pm (after dropping off at bell services at 9am that morning). We ended up missing our reservations and basically a whole night of vacation because of it. I know it will be a bit more costly than having Disney move your stuff, but it would be pretty easy to do and potentially save you a lot of time and headache. Just another idea to consider.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My understanding is that this means the ticket goes to the parent instead of the taxi driver. Still need the car seat/booster.

Sorry, but no. Taxis and cars for hire are exempt. This is fairly standard across the U.S.

ETA: And if you look at the definitional statute, a parent or guardian couldn't be ticketed because they don't meet the definition of an "operator" of a motor vehicle in cases of taxis. All paragraph 6 is saying is that the parent is responsible for ensuring the safety of their children.

 

[Punchy]

Here in Toronto, parents use taxis with no car seat or booster.

We live downtown and don't own a car. We usually just use transit but if a taxi is needed, we bring the seat. Drivers hate it, especially when my kid was using the giant Britax carseat. Too bad.

He's now able to use a booster, which is much easier. But for longer car trips we still put him in the big car seat. It's just not worth the risk, to me, and god forbid something were to happen, I wouldn't want to blame myself for that decision.

Are you taking the ME? If so, you barely have to haul the boosters around, just from arriving at the airport to check-in.

 

[Punchy]

Here in Toronto, parents use taxis with no car seat or booster.

We live downtown and don't own a car. We usually just use transit but if a taxi is needed, we bring the seat. Drivers hate it, especially when my kid was using the giant Britax carseat. Too bad.

He's now able to use a booster, which is much easier. But for longer car trips we still put him in the big car seat. It's just not worth the risk, to me, and god forbid something were to happen, I wouldn't want to blame myself for that decision.

Are you taking the ME? If so, you barely have to haul the boosters around, just from arriving at the airport to check-in.

 

[wilkeliza]

We don't live where folks take cabs except for circumstances like drinking. What do folks who don't own cars do? Like in NYC or Boston? Never take a cab with kids? Haul a car seat with them everywhere they go? Maybe folks from someplace like that can offer up advice

NYCer here. Thanks to my neice and nephew I have come into this situation a lot. When ever the kids were in cat seats or booster seats we either use our own car and pay for parking or if the family car isn't available we call a car company who can provide a car seat or booster seat.

Anothet popular option in NYC is to use a stroller that is a detachable car seat. That way you can grab a yellow cab and just quickly hook up your own car seat with out any extra stuff. Most recent neice and nephew had these type of strollers.