Florida Outlaws Seat Belts for Kids Under 5, Requires Booster Seats

We’ve all seen it: moms driving with their small kids in passenger seats (or lap, Britney Spears!). But that’s all about to change, thanks to a bill signed into law this week.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law Tuesday afternoon a new measure that keeps children in booster seats just a little bit longer. The new law outlaws the use of a standard seat belt only up to age 5. The former rules set the limit at 4, according to 10 News.

HB 225 was brought forth by the House Transportation & Highway Subcommittee, headed by Rep. Ed Hooper (R-Clearwater). The bill passed in April after a unanimous House vote of 114-0.

Before reaching Scott’s desk, the bill passed in the Florida Senate on a 36-3 vote, with dissenting votes from Sens. Rene Garcia (Hialeah), Denise Grimsley (Sebring), and John Legg (Lutz).

The Associated Press reports the new law allows for children not transported by a family member to ride without a booster seat.

Before the bill passed, Florida and South Dakota had been the only two U.S. states that hadn’t required kids to use booster seats up to the age of 5, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The law goes into effect New Year’s Day.