Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 5, 1990                   TAG: 9007040154
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: tammy poole
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RIDING IN BACK OF PICKUP NOT RECOMMENDED

A: Virginia's seat belt law requires drivers and front seat passengers to use safety belts when traveling in a motor vehicle that is equipped with (or required to be equipped with) safety belts. Drivers carrying a child from 4 to 16-years-old in the front seat are responsible for seeing that the child is properly secured in a safety belt.

Violaters of this law are subject to a $25 civil penalty.

Since the law applies to the front seat only, passengers in the back of a truck are not affected, according to the public information office of the Safety/Seat-Belt Hotline.

We also contacted the Motor Vehicles Department about your inquiry. While there are no laws forbidding people from riding in the back of a truck, it is dangerous and the Division of Motor Vehicles does not recommend it, said Mary King of the department's Transportation Safety Division.

"Some states do have laws against riding in the back of a truck. Recently a young child in our district was killed by falling off the back of a truck. It's really dangerous," King said.

For more information on seat belt laws, contact the Safety/Seat-Belt Hotline's toll free number, (800) 533-1892.

\ Toasters recalled

\ Toastmaster Inc. of Columbia, Mo., is recalling 8,857 four-slice electric toasters because a defective switch may create a fire, contact burn or severe electric shock hazard.

Some toasters have a defective switch that could allow the heating elements to continue operating after the toaster cycle. The company will replace all Model D126T toasters.

For instructions on exchanging the toaster, call Toastmaster at (800) 527-3069 or write Operations Manager, Toastmaster Inc., Second and Vine Streets, Boonville, Mo. 65233.

Quickline helps consumers get service, information and refunds of more than $25. Mail complaints, questions to Quickline, Roanoke Times & World-News, Box 2491, Roanoke name, address, phone number and photocopies of documents such as canceled checks, receipts or credit-card statements. Documents cannot be returned; complaints cannot be taken by phone. Questions not selected for use in the column will not be answered personally.