Help with car seats for children! We're trying to sell one which was

[Radio_Lady]

manufactured by Century products in 1995.

Apparently, there was some change in the law between the time we bought the USED car seat (1998) and now. But I can't find out what the difference is! This is a five-point car seat which can be used for a toddler or (without the harness attachment) a young child.

Do you know -- or can you point me to a place on the Internet -- which discusses this situation? I don't want to sell something used might not comply with current law because I didn't know about the changes in the law. I'm in the state of Oregon if that helps.

As always, thank you for your help in advance.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

P.S. This may be of some help from 2003.

Oregon


http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/811.html

811.210 Failure to use safety belts; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure to use safety belts if the person:
(a) Operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this state and is not properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness as required by subsection (2) of this section;
(b) Operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this state with a passenger who is under 16 years of age and the passenger is not properly secured with a child safety system, safety belt, or safety harness as required by subsection (2) of this section; or
(c) Is a passenger in a motor vehicle on the highways of this state who is 16 years of age or older and who is not properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness as required by subsection (2) of this section.
(2) To comply with this section:
(a) A person who is under four years of age and weighs 40 pounds or less must be properly secured with a child safety system that meets the minimum standards and specifications established by the Department of Transportation under ORS 815.055 for child safety systems designed for children weighing 40 pounds or less;
(b) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a person who is at least four years of age and under six years of age or weighs between 40 and 60 pounds must be properly secured with a child safety system that elevates the person so that a safety belt or safety harness properly fits the person. “Proper fit” means the lap belt of the safety belt or safety harness is positioned low across the thighs and the shoulder belt is positioned over the collarbone and away from the neck. The child safety system shall meet the minimum standards and specifications established by the Department of Transportation under ORS 815.055 for child safety systems designed for children weighing between 40 and 60 pounds; or
(c) A person who is at least six years of age and weighs 60 pounds or more must be properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness that meets requirements under ORS 815.055.
(3) If the rear seat of a vehicle is not equipped with shoulder belts, the requirements of subsection (2)(b) of this section do not apply provided the person is secured by a lap belt.
(4) The offense described in this section, failure to use safety belts, is a Class D traffic violation. <1985 c.16 §309; 1985 c.619 §1; 1991 c.2 §1; 1993 c.153 §1; 1993 c.751 §112; 2001 c.679 §1; 2003 c.159 §1>

811.215 Exemptions from safety belt requirements. ORS 811.210 does not apply to:
(1) Privately owned commercial vehicles, as defined in ORS 801.210. The exemption in this subsection does not apply to vehicles commonly known as pickup trucks that have a combined weight of less than 8,000 pounds or to motor carriers, as defined in ORS 825.005, when operating in interstate commerce.
(2) Any vehicle not required to be equipped with safety belts or safety harnesses at the time the vehicle was manufactured, unless safety belts or safety harnesses have been installed in the vehicle.
(3) Any vehicle exempted by ORS 815.080 from requirements to be equipped upon sale with safety belts or safety harnesses.
(4) Any person for whom a certificate is issued by the Department of Transportation under ORS 811.220.
(5) Any person who is a passenger in a vehicle if all seating positions in the vehicle are occupied by other persons.
(6) Any person who is being transported while in the custody of a police officer or any law enforcement agency.
(7) Any person who is delivering newspapers or mail in the regular course of work.
(8) Any person who is riding in an ambulance for the purpose of administering medical aid to another person in the ambulance, if being secured by a safety belt or safety harness would substantially inhibit the administration of medical aid.
(9) Any person who is reading utility meters in the regular course of work.
(10) Any person who is employed to operate a vehicle owned by a mass transit district while the vehicle is being used for the transportation of passengers in the public transportation system of the district.
(11) Any person who is collecting solid waste or recyclable materials in the regular course of work.

6/03

[LeftyMom]

1. Most seats expire after 6 years

The exceptions are older Fisher price seats, good for 8 years, and Recaro seats which are good for 10. No seat is good for more than ten years. Selling a seat past it's use date would mean the manufacturer has no liability should it fail and the buyer could come after you. The best thing to do would be to destroy it (cut the straps, remove the cover, etc) and throw it away or to take it to a Child Pasenger Safety inspection station to be used for training or properly destroyed.

[Radio_Lady]

2. I'm glad you took the time to let me know, Lefty Mom

Maybe we'll just use for dolls! Or I'll take it over to the local fire station.

I'm going to pull the advertisement based on your post, and other information.

http://babyproducts.about.com/b/a/257283.htm

Thanks again for being a Lefty Mom -- !

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[MissB]

3. Please just destroy it.

It really is the best thing for an old car seat. (Unless you were planning on using it for dolls- in that case, just cut the straps).

[Midlodemocrat]

4. I agree with this. Your potential customer has no way of knowing

if the seat was in an accident which renders it useless.

Destroy it.

[Radio_Lady]

5. UPDATE: The car seat will be turned in to the Tualatin Valley

Fire and Rescue team for potential training purposes, or destroyed if they cannot use it. The ad was taken down at www.portland.craigslist.com this afternoon -- as soon as I understood what the problem was. One woman called and I told her I was no longer selling it. She understood I had been advised to dispose of it because of its age.

Thanks to all who sent me messages about this today. It was very helpful.

Good night and good luck!

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[Midlodemocrat]

6. What a great idea, Radio_Lady! I never would have thought of that.

I'm sure they really appreciated your generosity.

Fire and Rescue folks are so often overlooked in our community because a lot of them are volunteers. A few years back, pre-9/11, our family started bringing gift cards for movies and popcorn and pizza and other treats to the firehouse near us for them to enjoy during the Christmas season. Well, you would have thought we had brought them lottery winnings they were so grateful.

When my FIL passed in his bed here in May, the teams that responded to our frantic phone calls were so incredibly kind and supportive and respectful of our grief. They are true heroes.