carseats?! illegal

[awor]

If you have ever driven near a car with Quebec plates, you would not need to ask this question

rofl!

 

[Bargeld]

This is unfortunately one of the downsides to moving to a different country.

Thankfully, neither of us had any kids yet, wife is between 39 and 40 weeks along right now, we attended prenatal classes and the hospital tour, both instances they made sure to hammer it into our heads that they won't let us take baby home unless we have a CBSA approved 5 point harness rear facing infant car seat, as well as demonstrate it's use putting baby in it, and that if a cop pulls you over he can look for a CBSA sticker on a car seat. If he doesn't see it, you can get cited. Sucks but it happens.

My theory about this is, driving in California for 15 years, the main problems on the road one deals with are either angry drivers or drivers in a rush. There isn't much in the way of stupid drivers. Unfortunately in the GTA (Toronto area for fellow Americans), we've already been in one accident (rear ended by a lady while slowing down to turn into a gas station, because she assumed we were going further to a McDonalds, i.e. she wasn't paying attention) and nearly a handful of other accidents due to stupid drivers. While there are technically stupid drivers everywhere, I have noticed since I've been here (6 months) that there's more of these. Non-cynical reasoning about the vastly different and more strict car seat laws tells me that Canada is simply more attuned with infant safety than the U.S. is, but the cynical reasoning is because there's a lot more stupid drivers unfortunately.

 

[cleo]

Wow. All I can think is if you don't like our laws then don't live here. I think it's a good thing we care about kids and want to have them safe. Stop ragging on our government for keeping guidelines strict. Isn't a child's safety worth it? It's got nothing to do with quality of our drivers or anything like that. I'm sorry you bought them thinking they'd be okay. It's an extra expense you surely don't need. But isn't it worth it? I'm sure you can find a way to recoup the cost, resell them somehow.

 

[awor]

Wow. All I can think is if you don't like our laws then don't live here.

Wow. Many of the people in this forum are moving to Canada because Canada is where their spouse is and there's no choice for the Canadian spouse to live in their country. Another way to look at it, is we can love a country but not like everything about it. Suggesting someone live elsewhere because they don't like one aspect of it seems very... un-Canadian.

 

[cleo]

It's a privilege to live in this wonderful country. I was born here and have generations of family to back it up too. I've also lived and worked abroad and though I don't always understand or appreciate other countries laws I respect them and keep my opinions to myself. I don't understand why it is considered so heinous to criticize other countries and cultures and their laws, and yet when people come to Canada, if they criticize things they are allowed to because this is so Canadian. Yes, come to our country with your backwards beliefs and laws that you bring with you. We are all inclusive here. Sorry, this is just wrong. But, sorry again, I am digressing. This post is only about carseats and the safety of children. I guess people think it's strange that we have such strict standards for child safety. I guess a child's life is not worth the cost of a secure car seat in some countries. But I'm glad I live in a country where this is not the case.

 

[toby]

If you have ever driven near a car with Quebec plates, you would not need to ask this question

When driving near a suspected Quebec driver, you should be looking for escape routes, not scoping out the licence plate!! ;D

 

[toby]

Yes, and this is why so many people take advantage of our "nice" Canadian system. All I'm trying to say is that we have our laws and people who immigrate here should be aware of them. Ignorance of the law is no defense.

Cleo, you are running with the bit in your mouth. No one is advising being ignorant of the Law. And no one is questioning the desirability of safeguarding children.

But not all laws are good laws. Some are basically misguided, or perhaps only excessive, and they are eventually repealed or changed -- partly because of the willingness of residents to criticize the bad ones. For example, caring about the safety of children does not mean that bureaucrats can legitimately demand that we clothe each child with helmets and flack jackets to keep them safer. There are limits, and the public is surely entitled to have a say in where to draw the line of reasonableness.

And to observe in passing that some drivers in the Toronto area need to become better drivers is necessarily not to dispute the law about car seats.

In fact, it can be argued that meek acceptance of each and every law leads to the erosion of democratic rights. It has throughout history.

Really? You want people who question a law to leave the country? Reminds me of the bumper stickers I saw in the USA years ago: America: Love it or leave it.

 

[Bargeld]

Wow @ cleo..

Toby, that's exactly what it reminds me of. Embarrassing. :-[

 

[louisa]

Due to many many injuries to children that could have been avoided by the proper safety equipment yes our country has what seems to be over zelous laws on safety BUT if it was your childs funeral you may feel differently and its because of those situations that they come up with new and better ways to keep children safe and as well for us adults.We also have to wear helmets on motor bikes and bicycles but after the huge cost for health care due to brain injuries it's worth the helmet. You must remember here our health care is free and they are making sure the people of this country stays out of the hospitals.
Maybe your hubby can buy car seats here and bring them back with him and you return the ones from the USA. We are known to be very friendly so welcome to our Country I hope you see the beauty we do.

 

[can_usa_97]

I never indicated I wasn't wanting my kids to be safe. I was unhappy about having to spend money - which honestly, no one likes. Plus, no one has mentioned it to us before, not even the IO when dh brought the carseats over 9/1. Nor the IO who did my landing when I indicated I had forgotten to put them on. If they illegal to import, I guess it'd be nice if that was on the list of restricted items because I never came across it before - nor did I find anything when I looked last night or today.

I wonder how many others are unaware of this, and were not notified who end up in a situation that we well could have been had I not mentioned the crappy Amazon Canada website and how we'd tried to buy ones on there to have them shipped to hubby in Canada and there were none. She then explained her thoughts.

They do not allow you to leave the hospital here either without demonstrating you can put baby in and out and that the carseat is correctly installed, 5pt harness.

Cleo- I don't think I ragged on the government once, let alone was saying I disliked the law. I merely was venting at the fact I have futher incurred expenses and wanted to share expeirences. As I found nothing on the topic when I searched. I was surprised because it seems pretty serious of a thing. Losing points on your license and a fine, seems like something you should be notified of. Especially since two border crossings on two separate occasions said nothing about it being illegal. When I in fact indicated I'd forgotten to put the carseats on my goods list and they waved me on, and when dh had 7 lines of goods and one line alone was dedicated to the carseats!
E
Again, I disliked having to spend money, not the law itself, or Canada for that matter! just another unexpected cost of the process..

I don't feel I critizeed the law, merely again, vented at the new expesne nor did I again, ever dislike that the laws were stricter. I think it's rude to assume that I was unahppy about the law. The insane part to me, is that there appears to be no notification of this when you move.

I have witness death due to brain injury in our family, several times over. I am not disputing complying with the law or that the law is right or wrong. I'm simply unhappy at the expense.

When all is done we will likely just eat the cost. It's a hassle to consider bringing them. We thought about hubby buying the correct ones, so we can cross in compliance, but then we are not in compliance here while we drive 9 hours, for 1 hour of compliance in Ontario. We could stop at the Sarnia Walmart and buy some right away.

 

[louisa]

Well welcome regardless and you have a valid complaint,one that should be mentioned to an MP to put on the list of when entering Canada but I do feel but can't etch this in stone.... that if you would be stopped by the police and explained the circumstances they would give you nothing more than a warning with a possible visit to the nearest police station once settled in your new home with proof of a canadian standard seat. My best friend came home yearly with her son and never had an issue with the carseat problem.So try not to worry

 

[can_usa_97]

I did find the regulation/law which says we have 30 days to drive with our old ones or until our cars are plated with Ontario plates. Then we must conform to the laws. Anyone visiting for more than 30 days needs to.

 

[louisa]

That sounds resonable but still I understand the extra expense is a burden. Welcome