Jenny Harty didn’t set out to change the law—she set out to keep her children alive. After a devastating 2002 crash, Jenny turned fear and fierce love into a mission that helped strengthen Georgia’s booster seat law. Her story is the reason we keep showing up for families—and the reason that, during Child Passenger Safety Week, we’re offering free safety checks with certified child passenger safety technicians.
Since 1984, Montlick has stood with families in their hardest moments. Jenny’s journey reminds us that preventing tragedy is as vital as pursuing justice after it.
The Day Everything Changed
Some moments split life into a “before” and an “after.” For Jenny, it happened in an instant on a summer day in 2002. A logging truck ran a stop sign. An SUV was struck, lost control, and veered into her lane—shearing off the left side of her family’s van. The van spun violently before crashing into a deep ravine. The logging truck never stopped.
Everyone survived, but Jenny knew immediately that her daughter Madison was seriously hurt. First responders on the scene weren’t sure doctors could save her arm. Police officers, paramedics, nurses, and even the tow truck driver echoed the same disbelief: Madison should not have survived. The sliding door on her side of the van was torn away and found 30 feet from the wreck. What every professional agreed on was this — her booster seat had saved her life.
Madison endured years of surgeries and recovery. As Jenny watched her daughter heal, she realized that Georgia law at the time did not require children of Madison’s age to ride in a booster seat. The statute was weak, and the minimum standards would not have protected her child. Jenny could not imagine what the outcome might have been had she simply followed the law instead of her instincts.
That realization became a turning point. Jenny knew Georgia had to do better to protect its youngest citizens who cannot protect themselves.
What began as gratitude became conviction. If the law required children to remain in boosters long enough for their bodies to truly fit an adult seat belt, more families could be spared the ordeal her family endured.
“I set off on a new path to make a law. Protecting children while riding in a motor vehicle turned into my life’s passion and work.” — Jenny Harty, Director of Community Relations & iRideSafe®
A Mother’s Voice in the Halls of Power
Jenny was determined to protect families from the leading cause of childhood fatalities — motor vehicle crashes. For two years she worked tirelessly at the Georgia State Capitol to turn her family’s experience into life-saving policy.
On July 1, 2004—two years to the day after the crash—“Madison’s Booster Seat Law” was signed into effect. The law required children under the age of six to ride in a booster seat. Jenny had pushed for age eight, but lawmakers negotiated the threshold down to six. Even so, it was a major step forward—stronger protections than Georgia had ever seen.
Seven years later, Jenny’s advocacy achieved another breakthrough. On July 1, 2011, the law, O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76, was expanded to its current standard: requiring children under the age of eight to ride in a booster seat.
What Georgia’s Law Says Today
Today, O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76 requires that children under age 8 ride in an appropriate child restraint/booster used according to manufacturer instructions, ideally in the rear seat when available. There’s a height exception at 4′9″ (57″) — once a child truly reaches that height and passes a proper belt-fit test (lap belt low on the upper thighs, shoulder belt between the shoulder and neck), a booster may no longer be needed.
Why this matters is simple: seat belts are designed for adult bodies. Proper positioning ensures the restraint protects rather than injures. That small change in position makes a life-size difference in a crash.
iRideSafe®: Turning Know-How into Everyday Habits
As her advocacy grew, Jenny’s role grew with it. Now, as Montlick’s Director of Community Relations, she also heads iRideSafe®—a program dedicated to helping families get three things right, every time they buckle up:
- Right stage, right seat. From harnessed seats to boosters, families get plain-language guidance tailored to real life (small cars, tall kids, carpool chaos).
- Right install. Belt paths, tethers, and the angle of the seat matter; small adjustments can transform outcomes.
- Right fit. After a good install, the belt still has to fit the child correctly—on the shoulder and upper thighs, not the neck or belly.
Montlick’s Commitment to Child Safety
Since 1984, Montlick has stood with families after the hardest days of their lives. That support means two things: immediate guidance in the aftermath and a long-term commitment to safety education—amplifying Jenny’s story so it can reach the people who write laws and the parents who buckle kids in every morning.
That commitment continues: iRideSafe® programming, community safety checks, and practical resources any parent can use.
What Parents and Caregivers Can Do During Child Passenger Safety Week
- Do a quick fit check. If the shoulder belt touches the neck or the lap belt rides the belly, a booster is still needed.
- Check your seat’s limits. Manufacturer height/weight limits tell you when to move up—not the birthday calendar alone.
- Keep kids in the back seat whenever possible.
- Get a hands-on check. A certified child passenger safety technician can confirm your install and fit in minutes.
- Share Jenny’s story. One conversation can nudge a friend toward a safer choice.
Jenny Harty’s resolve turned a family’s worst day into a safer future for Georgia’s children. Laws changed. Habits changed. And, every day, children ride home safely because of Jenny’s efforts. That’s Jenny’s legacy—and it’s still growing.
