NATCHEZ — As July 1 approaches, a handful of new laws are poised to go into effect.

While many of the new laws deal with issues like tax and insurance matters, two upcoming laws will give local law enforcement a little more to look out for.

Starting July 1 a new child restraint law will change the way children can ride in vehicles.

Mississippi Highway Patrolman Sgt. Rusty Boyd said booster seats will become mandatory for children from 4 to 6 years old who are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

“It’s for their protection,” he said.

Boyd said the new law was originated by pediatric advocacy groups in an effort to decrease the rate of injuries in the targeted age range.

Boyd said booster seats change the location of the seat belt on a child’s body and prevent the seat belt from going across a child’s neck.

“That can cause very serious injury,” Boyd said.

Boyd said not having a properly restrained child carries a fine of $25.

The second law of interest to local law enforcement will not go into effect until Aug. 9.

That law dealing with the sale and purchase of scrap metal is to put a damper on the theft of valuable metals.

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Maj. Jody Waldrop said strict regulations, to be put in place, dealing with the process of selling metals has the potential to lessen their theft.

“Until now there’s no regulation of substance in Mississippi,” he said of the currently lax laws regarding metal theft.

Once in place the new law will require businesses purchasing scrap metal to obtain a photo identification of the metal seller and take a photo or video of the seller with the metal they intend to sell.

Current metal sales in the state yield automatic cash, however that will also change with the new law.

Waldrop said the new law requires the purchaser to mail a check to the seller, at the address on the ID, no sooner than three days after the metal has been received by the buyer.

Waldrop said the three-day regulation is meant to hinder those seeking immediate cash, usually to satisfy a drug addiction.

Adams County Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter said he feels confident the new law will help to deter future metal theft.

Felter has regularly spoken on a need to regulate metal sales in an attempt to hinder theft.

Felter said the law is particularly helpful because its aim is at those selling stolen metal.

“If it’s legitimate there’s nothing for the seller to worry about,” he said.