tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73343170433264250072024-03-13T04:39:43.634-07:00Car Seat LawsCar seat laws 2014reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03005159862147229700noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334317043326425007.post-76764073023489344092012-04-18T02:34:00.001-07:002015-12-22T01:15:02.580-08:00U.S. Car Seat Laws by State 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The following list provides the child safety <b>car seat laws</b> for the 50 states. Please note that the laws generally require some older children to ride properly restrained in a booster seat, secured by the motor vehicle’s safety belt system. Age coverage and other requirements vary by state.<br />
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Please remember that car seat laws do not necessarily represent best practice and they are usually the minimum requirements for restraining your child while traveling. Children should use a booster seat until they weigh between 80 and 100 lbs., are about 4'9" (57 in.) tall. Before buying one for your child at least search about basic features and read a couple of car seat reviews.<br />
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<b>Alabama Car Seat Law</b><br />
Alabama law requires children through age 5 to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Children who are age 5 and 40 lbs. or more must use a booster seat. </li>
<li>Children who are age 5 and less than 40 lbs. must use a forward-facing child safety seat. </li>
<li>Children are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat until they are at least 1 year of age or weigh 20 lbs.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Newborns:</b>1-year-olds: ride in an approved infant-only, rear-facing car seat, in the back seat of the vehicle. These rules apply until the child is one year old or weighs 20 pounds.</div>
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<b>Toddlers:</b> 1-5 years old: ride in a convertible or forward-facing seat, using a lap belt and with the harness at or above the shoulders until the child turns five or weighs 40 pounds.</div>
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<b>Ages 5-6, 40 pounds or heavier:</b> ride in forward-facing booster seat, buckled with the vehicle's safety belt.</div>
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<b>Alaska </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Alaska law requires that children ages 7 and under who are less than 57 in. tall and weigh 20 or more lbs., but less than 65 lbs., be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system.<br />
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<b>Arizona </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Arizona law requires children under the age of 5 to use a child safety seat. In the State of Arizona all children under the age of five must be secured with a federally approved child safety seat or device.<br />
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<b>Arkansas </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Arkansas law requires children ages 5 and under and weighing less than 60 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>California </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
California law requires children ages 5 and under and weighing less than 60 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. </li>
<li>Children under the age of 8 who are 4' 9" or taller may be secured by a safety belt in the back seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Colorado </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Colorado law requires children ages 4–5 and less than 55 in. in height to use a booster seat.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Children less than 1 year of age and weighing less than 20 lbs. are required to ride in an appropriate rear-facing child safety seat. </li>
<li>Children ages 1–3 and weighing more than 20 lbs. (but less than 40 lbs.) are required to ride in an appropriate forward-facing child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Connecticut </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Connecticut law requires children ages 6 and under or weighing less than<br />
60 lbs. to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under age 1 or weighing less than 20 lbs. are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>Delaware </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Delaware law requires children ages 7 and under and weighing less than 66 lbs. to ride in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat.<br />
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<b>District of Columbia </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
District of Columbia law requires children ages 7 and under to ride in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat.<br />
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<b>Florida </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Florida law requires children under the age of 4 to use a child safety seat.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Rear facing seats should never be used in the front seat if the vehicle contains an active passenger-side airbag. Although not mandated, the safest place for your child of any age is in the back seat of the vehicle.</li>
<li>Independent of regulations, children between the ages of 4 and 8, or weighing under 80 lbs, should sit in a booster seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Georgia </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Georgia law requires children ages 5 and under and 4'9" in height or shorter to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under the age of six, regardless of how tall they are, must ride in the backseat of a car. </li>
<li>Children under the age of six are required to be in either a car seat or a booster seat suitable for their age and height.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Hawaii </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Hawaii law requires children ages 7 and under and 4'9" in height or shorter to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Idaho </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Idaho law requires children ages 6 and under to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Illinois </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Illinois law requires children ages 8 and under to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>A child under eight years old must be secured in a child safety seat. However, if the vehicle is equipped with lap belts only in the back seat, a child weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat wearing a lap belt only.</li>
<li>A child between the ages of 8 and 17 must be secured in a seat belt or child safety seat.</li>
<li>Children between the ages of 16 and 17 must wear seat belts when they are riding in vehicles driven by people under the age of 18.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Indiana </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Indiana law requires children ages 7 and under to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Iowa </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Iowa law requires children ages 5 and under to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Kansas</b><br />
Kansas law requires children ages 4–7, weighing less than 80 lbs. or less than 4'9" in height, to use an appropriate child restraint.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Children under the age of 4 are required to be restrained in the most appropriate child safety seat for their age.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Kentucky </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Kentucky law requires children through age 6 who are between 40–50 in. tall to use a booster seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children 40 in. in height or less must use an appropriate child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>Louisiana </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Louisiana law requires children ages 5 and under or weighing 60 lbs. or less to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children ages 4–5 or weighing 40–60 lbs. are required to use a booster seat. </li>
<li>Children ages 1–3 or weighing 20–39 lbs. are required to use a forward-facing child safety seat. </li>
<li>Children younger than age 1 or weighing less than 20 lbs.are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Maine </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Maine law requires children weighing less than 40 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children ages 7 and under and weighing at least 40 lbs. but under 80 lbs. are required to use an appropriate child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Maryland </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Maryland law requires children to be in a child safety seat through age 7, unless they weigh more than 65 lbs. or are 4'9" or taller.<br />
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<b>Massachusetts </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Massachusetts law requires children through age 7 and 57 in. in height or less to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Children 12 years old and younger must ride in federally approved child safety seats until they are five years old and weigh at least 40 pounds.</li>
<li>Children older than five but younger than 12, who weigh more than 40 pounds, must ride in booster seats or use safety belts.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Michigan </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Michigan law requires children under the age of 8 and less than 4'9" in height to use a child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Minnesota </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Minnesota law requires children ages 7 and under and less than 4'9" to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Mississippi </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Mississippi law requires children ages 4–6 and less than 4'9" in height or less than 65 lbs. in weight to use a booster seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children ages 3 and under are required to use a child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Missouri </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Missouri law requires children ages 4–7 weighing at least 40 lbs. but under 80 lbs., and less than 4'9" to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children less than 4 years of age (regardless of weight) and children weighing less than 40 lbs. (regardless of age) are required to use an appropriate child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>Montana </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Montana law requires children ages 5 and under and weighing less than 60 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Nebraska </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Nebraska law requires children ages 5 and under to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Nevada </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Nevada state law requires that children under age 6 and 60 pounds ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for the child's age and weight.<br />
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<b>New Hampshire </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
New Hampshire law requires children ages 5 and under and less than 55 in. in height to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>New Jersey </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
New Jersey law requires children ages 7 and under and weighing less than 80 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat in the back seat.<br />
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<b>New Mexico </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
New Mexico law requires children under the age of 7 (regardless of weight) or children who weigh less than 60 lbs. (regardless of age) to use a child safety seat.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Children under the age of 1 are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat in the rear seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>New York </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Every child under age 16 in the vehicle must use a safety restraint. If under age four, he or she must be properly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat that is attached to a vehicle by a safety belt or universal child restraint anchorage (LATCH) system. A child under age four who weighs more than 40 pounds may be restrained in a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt. A child of age 4, 5, 6 or 7, must use a booster seat with lap and shoulder belt or a child safety seat<br />
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<b>North Carolina </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
North Carolina law requires children ages 7 and under and less than 80 lbs. to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>North Dakota </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
North Dakota law requires children ages 6 and under who are under 57 in. in height and weigh less than 80 lbs. to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Ohio </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Ohio law will require children ages 8 and under and less than 4'9" to use a booster seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under age 4 and less than 40 lbs. are required to use a child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>Oklahoma </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Oklahoma law requires children ages 5 and under to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Oregon </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Oregon law requires children through age 7 weighing more than 40 lbs. and measuring 4'9" or shorter to use a booster seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children weighing 40 lbs. or less are required to use an appropriate child safety seat. </li>
<li>Children under age 1, regardless of weight, or children weighing 20 lbs.or less, must be properly secured in a rear-facing child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>Pennsylvania </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Pennsylvania law requires children under the age of 8 to use a child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Rhode Island </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Rhode Island law requires children ages 6 and under, less than 54 in. in height, and weighing less than 80 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat in the back seat.<br />
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<b>South Carolina </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
South Carolina law requires children ages 5 and under and weighing between 40–80 lbs. to use a booster seat in the back seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children ages 0–1 or weighing less than 20 lbs. must use a rear-facing child safety seat inthe back seat. </li>
<li>Children ages 1–5 and weighing between 20–39 lbs. must use a forward-facing child safety seat in the back seat.</li>
</ul>
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<b>South Dakota </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
South Dakota law requires children under the age of 5 and weighing less than 40 lbs. to use a child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Tennessee </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Tennessee law requires children ages 4–8 and measuring less than 4'9" in height to use a booster seat (in the rear seat, if available).<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under age 1 or children weighing 20 lbs. or less are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat (in the rear seat, if available). </li>
<li>Children ages 1–3 and weighing more than 20 lbs. are required to use a forward-facing child safety seat (in the rear seat, if available).</li>
</ul>
<b>Texas </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Texas law requires children ages 8 and under to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li></li>
<li>In the State of Texas Children eight (8) years of age are not required by law to use a child safety seat system.</li>
<li>If a child is four feet, nine inches tall (4’ 9”) the child is not required by law to use a child safety seat system even if they are younger that eight (8) years old.</li>
</ul>
<b>Utah </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Utah law requires children through age 7 and less than 57 in. in height to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Vermont </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Vermont law requires children ages 1–7 and weighing more than 20 lbs. to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under the age of 1 (regardless of weight) and children weighing less than 20 lbs. (regardless of age) are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat.</li>
</ul>
<b>Virginia </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Virginia law requires children ages 7 and under to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Washington </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Washington law requires children ages 7 and under and less than 4'9" in height to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children under 13 years old be transported in the back seat where it is practical to do so.</li>
<li>Children up to their 8th birthday, unless they are 4'9" tall (which ever comes first), must ride in a child restraint. (For example a child car seat, booster seat, vest, or other restraint that is federally approved for use in the car.)</li>
<li>The restraint system must be used correctly according to the car seat AND vehicle manufacturer's instructions.</li>
<li>Vehicles equipped with lap-only seat belts are exempt from the requirement to use a booster seat.</li>
<li>Children 8-years of age or at least 4'9" who wear a seat belt MUST use it correctly (never under the arm or behind the back) or continue to use a booster.</li>
</ul>
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<b>West Virginia </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
West Virginia law requires children ages 7 and under and less than 4'9" in height to ride in an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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<b>Wisconsin </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Wisconsin law requires children ages 4–7, weighing between 40–80 lbs. and no more than 57 in. in height to ride in a booster seat.<br />
<ul>
<li>Children ages 1–3 and weighing between 20–39 lbs. are required to use a forward-facing child safety seat in the back seat, if possible. </li>
<li>Children less than 1 year of age or weighing less than 20 lbs. are required to use a rear-facing child safety seat in the back seat if possible.</li>
</ul>
<b>Wyoming </b><b>Car Seat Law</b><br />
Wyoming law requires children ages 8 and under to use an appropriate child safety seat.<br />
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