Government won two close votes yesterday to ensure drivers who don?t buckle up and have proper car seats for children can be fined from January 1.

The House of Assembly yesterday corrected an ?oversight? in the original legislation which did not provide a start date for the penalties to kick in.

The Opposition failed to get the commencement date held back by six months until July to give poorer families which may need to buy bigger cars to be in compliance more time to to save, and to allow duty breaks on car booster seats.

The vote went to a name call and was tied 13-13, but the legislation passed after Deputy Speaker Jennifer Smith used her casting vote in favour.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said afterwards: ?Everyone in Bermuda and some people outside knew Bermuda knew that January 1 was the beginning of the penalty phase of the legislation.

?But grandstanding is part of the political process, and I understand that.?

There was also a roll call vote for the third reading which Government won 12-11.

When the Motor Car Amendment Act was passed in 2001, it was announced that drivers would have a grace period throughout 2003 when they would escape with a verbal caution from Police.

From January 1, Magistrates can impose fines of up to $2,100 for those who break the law.

From January 1, if a car has seatbelts, children under 14 in the front and back seats must be strapped in.

All children under 80 pounds must be put in a child seat. Children under one year old, but over 20 pounds can use a a seat facing backwards.

Children over one year old and in the 20-40 pound range, should be put in a forward facing seat in the back.

And children between 40 and 80 pounds should be put in booster seats which ensure the seatbelts are around their chest and hips.

Shadow Transport Minister Jamahl Simmons said the UBP supported the legislation, but wanted to give poorer families which might need to buy a bigger car more time to save.

He said the law would also mark a ?sad day? in Bermuda?s culture when people could not stop to pick up people in the streets if they didn?t have seatbelts. ?We hope Government will give the people a Christmas gift and push back the legislation by six months,? he said.