LANSING - - Legislators say two proposals putting stricter laws on booster seats are not about making money for the state but all about a child’s safety.

One proposal would require booster seats for all children between 4 and 8.

The other focuses more on the child’s height and weight

Right now, only children under 4 years old must ride in a car seat and there is no weight criteria on it. The penalty is treated like a safety belt ticket with a maximum $60 fine.

Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, who is sponsoring the age-boost proposa, said he has a simple motive for pushing it.

“Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death or injury for a child over a year old,” he said. “I believe proper restraint of a child can lead to lowering these statistics and keep our children safe from future injuries.”

A report by the Office of Highway Safety said 144 children received some kind of “incapacitating injury” and 17 died in motor vehicle accident in 2005.

Of those victims, only one died and 14 received a severe injury while using some kind of child restraint.

In addition, the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Center reported that Michigan parents aren’t using booster seats enough.

The report stated that only 8.6 percent of parents with children between the ages of 4 and 8 use a booster seat.

It went on to say that 48.8 percent of parents have their child wear a seat belt and that 37.5 percent of children aren’t restrained at all.

Miriam Manary, a senior engineering associate at the research center, said a booster seat reduces the chance of a severe injury by 59 percent for children between the ages of 4 and 6 reduces.

She that she is glad Michigan is trying to catch up with states like Indiana and California, which had already raised their age for required riding in a booster seat.

Suzy Carter, executive director of the Lansing Area Safety Council, said she doesn’t know whether legislation would get more children into booster seats but said it is still a way to get through to parents.

“We really need to get and stay on the education route,” Carter said. “A parent shouldn’t wait for legislation to come around to keep their child safe.”

She added the law does a great job in getting people to wear seat belts, and said the new proposals could raise booster seat awareness as well.

Carter didn’t comment on the specific proposal concerned with height and weight but said her agency considers them important factors in safety.

“The age has some significance, but the height of the child is more of an issue that should be addressed as well,” she said.

Rep. Kathy Angerer, D-Dundee, drafted that proposal.

Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, a co-sponsor of the Jone’s proposal, said the bill is not intended for police to hand out more tickets but to protect more children.

“This has nothing to do with revenue or handing out more tickets,” Meadows said. “We need to encourage parents to provide proper safety for their kids.”

“The thing is though, you drive around anywhere in the state and see kids in seat belts or completely unrestrained and it’s shocking. Some parents just don’t get it, and hopefully more will begin to properly protect their children when driving.”