Booster Seats in the Z and the new laws

Discussion in 'Non Technical' started by pexzed, Feb 16, 2010.

  1. pexzed

    pexzed Forum Administrator

    I'm intrigued regarding the new child seat laws coming into QLD.
    Seems that all children 4-7 MUST be in a booster seat, and can't sit in the front seat of a passenger car unless the rear seats are already ALL occupied by CHILDREN.

    Now, the STD booster seat does not safely fit in the Z, so it appears that if Caitlyn travels in the Z, she can be either

    • Legal, but unsafe
    • Illegal but safe.
    You can see from the pics the way the seat does not fit into the "BUM" recess in the seat, but that Caitlyn's height in the seat is quite perfectly suited the the belt height across her chest when seated in the car without the booster.

    I'm taking these photos down to the police station tomorrow for further clarification or to see if I can get some form of exemption.
    I hope it's not the end of Caitlyn travelling in the car for 2 more years until she's 8
    Keep you all posted.

    Car seat 17.5 inches at the base
    [​IMG]

    Z seat 10" wide in the "BUM" recess

    [​IMG]

    Pic for the popo to show the contour of the whole seat
    [​IMG]

    From left to right, you can see how tight it is for the seatbelt
    [​IMG]
    How the car seat wants to naturally sit.
    Even if you try and level it, it will sink back to either of these 2 positions
    [​IMG]
    .
    [​IMG]

    Leaning tower of Caitlyn
    [​IMG]

    Showing Seatbelt height without the booster, looks all good to me.
    [​IMG]
    .
     
  2. ugame

    ugame user #1

    eh? Just throw her in the boot
     
  3. ZedEx

    ZedEx Dr No

    the rear seats in a 300zx a practically child seats anyway! lol. But yes, looks like she fits pretty well just in the normal seat but i reckon you'll run into trouble trying to get an exemption. I'd just go with 'safe' but 'technically illegal' if it was me
     
  4. Hyper101

    Hyper101 Well-Known Member

    Greg, go one better and show pics with Caitlyn with a H harness in the back with no booster its by far the safest option in a Zed

    Spencer (7) has not been in a booster for almost 2 years, because hes tall (go figure). instead both my kids use a H harness.

    Insert random interweb pic

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Romonski

    Romonski And Justice For All

    LOLOLOL epic u made my day :p
     
  6. Kieren

    Kieren Active Member

    Put a 4-point racing harness in the back seat :p
     
  7. pexzed

    pexzed Forum Administrator

    Wonder how utes and 2 seaters go with these new laws?
     
  8. Cam

    Cam ****

    What about that hatch rack that carries your bike. Might be able to rig the seat to that safely. :D
     
  9. blackheartedprofit

    blackheartedprofit New Member

    Who ever said that common sense had anything whatsoever to do with law?. :confused:
     
  10. angrybear

    angrybear Moderator

    Greg,

    I reckon there is a good case for getting out the jig saw and shaping the bottom of the booster seat to match the recess in the rear seats. Its only foam anyway - band saw works best with that, but a fine toothed jig saw is OK.

    No Constable Plod will know you have custom fitted the booster, and I think Caitlyn would enjoy the extra height it would give. She would also be able to see the speedo and tell you all about that. :p

    Tell Caitlyn Niamh and Mia say Hi!
     
  11. pexzed

    pexzed Forum Administrator

    I had considered this option, and may need to use it depending on what is said tomorrow at the station.
    Trouble is, then the seat wouldn't be stable in the other car (Flat base)
     
  12. Original Booster seat available from Nissan

    these are hard to find :)
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Red_Turtle_Z

    Red_Turtle_Z 'Nuf said....

    From what i understood as well in regards with height - is that the childs head must not be higher than the top edge of the seat. Lil turt is far too big to be sitting in a booster seat coz of her height. She sits in the back seat fine, her head in the right position - (not too high) and the belt goes across her in the right place.... do we get any cheaper insurance/discount if we fork out for the 'H' harness??? hmmmm :rolleyes:
     
  14. Blipman

    Blipman Beer hooves totally work

    The 'bum width' of rear Z seats is outright massive compared to some cars (have a look at some Porsche rear seats) so you can't be alone in this problem. I'd go for safety and put her in the front, that's far more important than worrying about a ticket, and if anyone who pulls you over doesn't accept that you're just trying to do the right thing is being pretty harsh indeed.

    Ben
     
  15. pexzed

    pexzed Forum Administrator

    Unfortunately, a child under 8 can only occupy the front seat if all the back seats are already occupied with children.
    I dare say there's some public servant or department thereof with far to much time on there hands, and far too little thought :mad:
     
  16. supersonic

    supersonic New Member

    Mate f' the law if it compromises anyone's safety, especially your children's! The back seat of the z is still safer without a booster. When you see the cops, take the booster with you and show them what is obviously the safer option. If any cop books you for it, fight him! (Through legal avenues, of course)
     
  17. blueraven

    blueraven Active Member

    I read the doco on the QLD Transport website yesterday, after seeing this thread appear. Apparently the child is only too tall if the eye level of them is higher than the back of the seat. So she is fine in this case.

    It definitely seems that way. I find it odd that there is nothing in the exemptions list, or any mention in the PDFs I could find, that mentioned if a row of seats were too narrow to hold a booster seat.

    The dishonest approach for kids that look like they might be 8 is to lie. You're not required by law to keep birth certificates with you in the vehicle (according to the PDF documents on the Transport site), though that doesn't stop them from requesting them at a later date.

    Not that I recommend that at all. I don't have kids and don't intend to any time soon, so my natural reaction would be for their safety. Having said that, two kids in the back of the Zed is a $600 fine with 6 points.
     
  18. IB

    IB ?????

    If you can't get an exemption:
    • Take the rear seat base out
    • Cut a piece of MDF to fill the hole where the rear seat base was.
    • Upholster MDF.
    • Mount Booster seat on new MDF base.

    Bloody stupid laws just because some stupid people can't work out how to safely secure their children in the car.
     
  19. AndyMac

    AndyMac Better than you

    If you can't get the exemption and don't want to go cutting up the zed or the booster, have a look at Porsche Shop UK - Baby Seats they have seats designed to fit in the porsche models, and some of those should fit the rear seats of the zed...at a price.
     
  20. pexzed

    pexzed Forum Administrator

    OK

    so here we are.

    Police station, no one was willing to assist me, they sent me next door to QLD transport.
    I spoke to a supervisor there, and after seeing my photos, she agreed the booster seat was unsafe and the seatbelt was perfect in the natural seated position using the seats (as is).
    They gave me a brochure, and there is an "out" at least for me.
    If the child's eyes are level or higher than the top of the booster seat, it is not required, regardless of the age.
    The supervisor suggested to me that I keep the brochure and a picture of her in the booster seat in the glovebox, and if ever picked for it, I can demonstrate that I am indeed following the guidelines.
     
    Fate likes this.

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