Time to protect unbuckled children

By VINCENT SHEHEEN

Guest columnist

Last week Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed legislation raising the fine for failing to place a baby or small child in a car seat from $25 to $150. I introduced that legislation, taking this small step to protect our children after hearing from several Highway Patrol officers. These troopers were frustrated by seeing toddlers jumping around in the back seats of cars as the adult drivers hurtled down the interstate.

Unfortunately, under current law the trooper could merely levy a $25 fine against the driver for endangering the lives of these precious children. They explained to me how their frustration turns to grief whenever they have to work a car crash involving an unrestrained infant or toddler.

We know from national statistics that a child properly restrained in a child safety seat is 72 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than one who is not. We know from common sense that a child cannot decide whether to be buckled up properly. We know from our everyday experiences that a $25 fine is not much of a deterrent to anyone. In fact, a two-point speeding ticket carries a higher fine.

Unfortunately, our governor in his veto message demonstrated that he does not understand these commonsense, common experiences. Instead of focusing on the safety of our children, the governor focused on the concept of personal responsibility. His veto message clearly states that he does not believe government should play a role in protecting the children of South Carolina.

He is wrong. The state has played a strong role in protecting its most vulnerable citizens, our children, for generations. It is a role we should be proud of.

In his veto message, the governor stated that increased fines on adult drivers for not buckling in their child passengers reduced personal responsibility. Tell that to a 2-year-old child who smashes through the windshield after an accident. The governor’s argument does not even make sense. Raising the fine on adults who do not buckle up their toddlers imposes real responsibility upon them for their reckless actions. Adult drivers who don't buckle up their babies and toddlers shift the burden of injuries to society, which all too often must pay the cost in medical bills and wrecked lives.

In the end, the injured child is the one who pays the highest price for the governor’s misguided concept of personal responsibility.

All too often, South Carolina's government ignores commonsense solutions to real problems. Now, when our Legislature saw fit to pass a commonsense solution to a real problem, our governor vetoes it based on misguided, ideological beliefs about individual responsibility.

Infants or toddlers cannot take responsibility for themselves, and adult drivers who place them in harm’s way should face more than a $25 slap on the wrist. I call on all South Carolinians to contact their senators and representatives to urge them to override Gov. Sanford's veto and make South Carolina a safer place for our children.

Sen. Sheheen, D-Kershaw, has served in the S.C. Senate since 2004. He can be reached at vs@scsenate.org.