In Brief

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2012 (5297 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Booster-seat legislation

The Selinger government will introduce legislation this week spelling out for parents the use of child booster car seats for older children.

Consumer Affairs Minister Jim Rondeau said Monday the province will mandate, using height and weight standards, when an older child should use a booster seat when travelling in a vehicle. The province already has legislation for car seats for younger children.

“The trouble is we’re finding that the kids get a little bit taller and little bit heavier, they want out of the child seats,” Rondeau said. “What we want to do is work with parents to make sure they know where it’s safe to have the kids out and not out.”

Rondeau said booster seats, which cost less than $40, protect younger kids from serious neck or internal injuries in side collisions.

Manitoba Public Insurance says children should graduate to seatbelt use when they are over 4-9 or eight years old and 80 pounds.

 

Simpler cellphone contracts

NEW rules to simplify cellphone contracts in Manitoba take effect Sept. 15, Consumer Affairs Minister Jim Rondeau said Monday.

“All of the contract provisions are spelled out beforehand,” Rondeau said. “They can’t be unilaterally changed. It’s all identified in plain language.”

The new rules, which wireless providers have agreed to, require companies to provide a copy of the contract to consumers before the contract begins; require companies to fully disclose and explain all charges, fees and terms; require the minimum monthly cost to be included in cellphone advertisements; restrict automatic cellphone contract renewals and increases consumer protection for cellphone contracts not made in person, including contracts made over the Internet.

The province also says the new legislation allows cellphone companies to charge reasonable fees when consumers end contracts early.

“If you get a $200 phone and you quit within a month, yes, you’re going to have to pay something to cancel the contract, but if you’re in the third year, two months to go, there cannot be a $300 penalty to cancel the contract,” Rondeau said.

Under the new legislation, the Consumer Protection Office can impose fines for non-compliance of up to $1,000 for the first offence, $3,000 for the second offence and $5,000 for subsequent offences.

 

Weapons charges in standoff

SEVERAL weapons-related charges will be brought against the 48-year-old man involved in a standoff with police for several hours late Sunday night in East Kildonan.

Police said the incident was triggered by a domestic dispute between a woman living in the home and her ex, who showed up with a rifle.

Const. Jason Michalyshen said the woman and the couple’s two sons, aged 17 and 12, left the home after police arrived just before 7 p.m.

The man never threatened the woman or their children, but police at the scene were concerned he would hurt himself, Michalyshen said.

Crisis negotiators, the tactical unit and a canine unit were brought to the scene. A stretch of Lagimodiere Boulevard east of the Eaglemere Drive home was closed.

The incident ended just after midnight when the man surrendered. He remains in custody.

No one was hurt and the rifle was never fired.

 

Medical problem in crash: cops

A 60-year-old woman died late Sunday night after her speeding car crashed into a home in the 500 block of Polson Avenue, near McGregor Street.

Police said the woman didn’t die from injuries received in the crash but from a medical condition, which they believe triggered the speeding that ended in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.