Newly approved legislation says children should be 7 years old before parents stop using booster seats to transport them in vehicles, and drivers who violate the standard face a $25 fine.

"This is not an onerous bill. This is not infringing on anybody's rights," said Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, R-Mandan. "All this bill is doing is, it's helping us to conform to state law in other states, and to protect our children in a car."

North Dakota law now requires a child younger than 4 to be strapped in a safety seat, or have some type of safety restraint, when traveling in a vehicle. Violators have a penalty point assessed against their driver's license.

On Wednesday, the North Dakota House voted 64-30 to approve legislation to say children younger than 7 must be restrained. The bill adds a $25 fine for violations.

Opponents of the change objected to the fine, and said parents could look after the safety of their own children without a state law telling them what to do.

"I have a grandson who is 7, who thinks it's one of the best things in the world to be able to actually sit in the back seat without a booster chair, and put on his seat belt," said Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo. "I believe he's safe when he does that. I think this is going too far."

The law says children who are at least 4-foot-9 and 80 pounds may use regular seat belts, and not a child restraint system. Carlson asked if police would be required to bring a scale and tape measure to do proper enforcement.

Kelsch said the law will give parents guidance on the proper time to use a booster seat. A lap and shoulder belt could cause injuries to a child in an accident if he or she is too small to wear the restraints, she said.

"We talk … so often, how children are the future of North Dakota, and this is another one of those bills to protect our children, so that those children can be educated, and can live, and can work in our state," she said.

The bill is SB2208.