Young children who are too big for infant car seats would have to be placed in booster seats when riding in vehicles under a bill now on its way to becoming law.

The House passed Senate Bill 120, sponsored by Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, by a vote of 88-8. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.

SB 120 would require children under 7 years old and between 40-50 inches tall to be placed in booster seats when riding in a motor vehicle. Violators would be fined $30, but first-time offenders could show proof that they had bought a booster seat instead of paying the fine.

The fines would not be issued until July 1, 2009. Until then, violators would be issued courtesy warnings.

Current law only requires that infants and toddlers use car seats, with a $50 fine for non-compliance. Neither the current law nor SB 120 would require violators to pay court costs or additional fees.