Minnesota will soon be home to a much tougher car seat law.  Starting this summer, children will have to wait four more years before giving up their booster seats.

Starting July 1, Minnesota state law will require every child seven years old and under to be in a car seat or booster seat. The only exception is if they're 4'9" or taller. Under current law, they're only required for kids three and under.  Advocates hope the change will help get an important message to parents.

Cayla Hamm's car is equipped for three boys under the age of five.

"Ian's in an infant seat, Kegan's in a car seat and Mason gets to sit in a booster seat,” Hamm said. 

Her children will stay in safety restraints while they are on the road until they're big enough for regular seat belts.

“I think it's a good law, it keeps them safe and you don't know what's going to happen,” Hamm said.

But not all parents are as well informed. That's why advocates say the new law was needed.

"Until kids are 4'9", if you put them into adult lap belts, the lap belts will ride up on their stomach and it could cause serious abdominal injuries,” child passenger safety technician Diane Boyenga said. 

Boyenga says the proof is in the numbers.

Children between four and seven years old who are not in a booster seat are two and a half times more likely to be hurt in an accident.  And studies show that children from that same age group who were involved in car crash and used booster seats had no abdominal or neck injuries.

Boyenga says it's a positive change that would save lives.

Once the new law takes affect, violations will be punishable with fines of up to $50.  For those of you planning a summer trip through Minnesota, we checked with law enforcement and they aren't quite sure how the law will affect people from out-of-state.

So, how does Minnesota's new law compare to other states?

Similar laws are already in place in 20 other states.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, just two states, Wyoming and Tennessee, have laws that are more strict.  In South Dakota, children four years old and under need to use a booster seat; in Nebraska and Iowa, the law is five and under.