Car Seat Laws
52 articles
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Alabama Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Stages & Penalties
Alabama requires rear-facing until age 1 or 20 lb, a booster until age 6, and belts to 14, under Ala. Code 32-5-222. See the $25 fine and the Amiyah White Act.
Alaska Car Seat Laws (2026): 5 Stages & Penalties
Alaska requires rear-facing until age 1 and 20 lb, a booster to age 8, and a device-or-belt stage to 15, under AS 28.05.095. See the up-to-$50 fine and exemptions.
Arizona Car Seat Laws (2026): Booster Age & Penalty Rules
Arizona requires child restraints under age 8 or 4'9" tall, per A.R.S. 28-907. See the 2026 booster cutoff, exemptions, and the $50 penalty in full.
Arkansas Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Weight & Fines
Arkansas requires a car seat under age 6 and 60 lb, then a belt suffices, under Ark. Code 27-34-104. See the $25-$100 fine under 27-34-103 and exemptions.
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California Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Airbags & Fines
California requires rear-facing under age 2 (or 40 lb/in), a restraint until 8, under Veh. Code 27360/27363. See the airbag rule, penalties, and 2027 change.
Car Seat Laws by State 2026: Rear-Facing, Booster, Front Seat Rules
Car seat laws by state for 2026: rear-facing, booster, and front-seat rules for all 50 states plus DC, with penalties and statute citations.
Colorado Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Rear Seat & the Rear-Seat Change
Colorado requires a restraint through age 8 and rear-seat placement where available, under C.R.S. 42-4-236. See the 2024 HB24-1055 change and penalty class.
Connecticut Car Seat Laws (2026): Closed Weight Bands
Connecticut requires rear-facing under age 2 or 30 lb, closed weight bands to age 8, under Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-100a. See the airbag rule and penalties.
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DC Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Points
DC requires rear-facing seats to age 2 and restraint/booster seats to age 8, per D.C. Code 50-1703. See the 2026 $75-$150 fine ladder, points, and citations.
Delaware Car Seat Laws (2026): Stages, Airbag Rule & Fines
Delaware requires rear-facing seats until age 2 and 30 lbs, per 21 Del. C. 4803. See the 2026 booster rule, front-seat airbag limit, and $25 fine.
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Florida Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Exceptions & HB 233
Florida requires car seats through age 3 and boosters at 4-5, per Fla. Stat. 316.613. See 3-point penalty, unattended-child rule, and HB 233's status.
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Georgia Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Exemptions
Georgia requires child restraints until age 8 or 4'9" tall, per O.C.G.A. 40-8-76. See the 2026 $50/$100 fines, lap-belt rule, and taxi exemption.
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Hawaii Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Weight & Penalty Rules
Hawaii requires rear-facing seats until age 2 and a booster or harness until age 10, with fines from $100 to $800. See 2026 penalties, exemptions, and stages.
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Idaho Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Rules & Exemptions
Idaho requires one child safety restraint rule through age 6, with no statutory rear-facing or booster split. See the 2026 exemptions and enforcement.
Illinois Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Weight & Penalty Rules
Illinois requires rear-facing seats until age 2 or 40 lbs/40 in, a restraint system to age 8, then seat belts to 16. See 2026 penalties and exemptions.
Indiana Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Exemptions & Penalties
Indiana requires a child restraint system under age 8, then a restraint or seat belt through 15, per IC 9-19-11-2. See the medical exemption and penalties.
Iowa Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Weight & Penalty Rules
Iowa requires rear-facing seats only under 1 AND under 20 lbs, then a restraint system through age 5. See 2026 penalties, exemptions, and the full rules.
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Kansas Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Weight & Penalty Rules
Kansas requires a restraining system until age 8, 80 lbs, or 4'9". A $60 restraining-system fine is waived on proof of purchase. See the 2026 stages and exemptions.
Kentucky Car Seat Laws (2026): Booster Rules & 3-Tier Fines
Kentucky requires a child restraint to 40 inches and a booster to age 8/57 inches under KRS 189.125. Fines run $50, $30, or up to $25 by violation.
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Louisiana Car Seat Laws (2026): Stages, Taxi Rule & Fines
Louisiana requires rear-facing seats to age 2, then forward-facing, booster, and belt stages under R.S. 32:295. First-offense fines are $100. See exemptions.
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Maine Car Seat Laws (2026): Stages, Smoking Ban & Fines
Maine requires rear-facing seats to age 2, a harness to 55 lbs, and a belt-positioning seat to age 8/57in/80lb. Fines run $50-$250. See the smoking-with-minor law.
Maryland Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Taxi Rule
Maryland requires rear-facing to age 2, a safety seat to age 8 or 4'9", and a belt or seat to 16. Fines are $50, waivable on proof of purchase.
Massachusetts Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Belt Rule & $25 Fine
Massachusetts requires a child restraint to age 8 or 57 inches, then a seat belt to age 13, under c. 90 7AA. The maximum fine is $25. See exemptions.
Michigan Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & Penalty
Michigan requires rear-facing seats until age 2 and boosters until age 8 or 4'9". See the 2026 stage table, $10 fine plus court costs, waiver rules, and exemptions.
Minnesota Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & Penalty
Minnesota requires rear-facing until 2 and boosters until 9 (or later if not outgrown). See the 2026 stage table, $50 penalty, 14-day waiver, and rear-seat rule.
Mississippi Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & Penalty
Mississippi requires restraints under 4 and boosters through 6 unless a child tops 4'9" AND 65 lbs. See the 2026 stage table, $25 penalty, and exemptions.
Missouri Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & Penalty
Missouri requires restraints under 4 or under 40 lbs, and boosters through 7 if also under 80 lbs and 4'9". See the 2026 stage table and $50 penalty.
Montana Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & 2025 Update
Montana requires rear-facing seats until age 2 and harness or booster seats until age 8, per MCA 61-9-420. See the 2025 amendment, penalty, and exemptions.
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Nebraska Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Front Seat & Penalty
Nebraska requires rear-facing seats until age 2 and restraints (rear seat when available) through 7. See the 2026 stage table, $25 penalty, and exemptions.
Nevada Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Penalty & Waiver
Nevada requires restraints for children under 6 and under 57", rear-facing under 2. See the 2026 penalty scale ($100-$1,000), training waiver, and exemptions.
New Hampshire Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages & Penalty
New Hampshire requires rear-facing seats under 2 and restraints under 7 and under 57". See the 2024 expiration-date rule, $50-$100 penalty, and exemptions.
New Jersey Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Weight & Fines
New Jersey requires rear-facing seats to age 2 or 30 lb, boosters to age 8 or 57in, in a rear seat under N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2a. See the $50-$75 fine and exemptions.
New Mexico Car Seat Laws (2026): 4 Age Tiers & $25 Fine
New Mexico runs 4 car seat tiers by age: rear-facing under 1, restraint through 4, booster through 6, belt-eligible through 12. See exemptions and the $25 penalty.
New York Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Front Seat
New York requires car seats through age 7 and seat belts after, per VTL 1229-c. See the correct $25-$100 fine, the waiver rule, and front-seat rules.
North Carolina Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Exemptions & Fines
N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-137.1 requires a weight-appropriate restraint under 8/80 lb, a rear-seat rule under 5/40 lb, and a lap-belt allowance 40-80 lb. See the $25 fine.
North Dakota Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Rules & Penalties
N.D.C.C. 39-21-41.2 requires a child restraint under 8 unless the child is 57+ inches tall. See the 2023 enforcement change, exemptions, and $25 fee.
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Ohio Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Day-Care Rule & Fines
Ohio Rev. Code 4511.81 requires a restraint under 4/40 lbs, a booster under 8/4'9", and a belt at 8-15. See day-care rules, exemptions, and the $25-$75 fine.
Oklahoma Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Exemptions & Fines
47 O.S. 11-1112: rear-facing to age 2, booster to age 7 (under 4'9"). $50 fine suspended on proof of purchase, court costs capped at $15, first offense only.
Oregon Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Exemptions & Penalty
ORS 811.210 requires rear-facing until age 2, then a weight-based system through 40 lbs and a booster until age 8 or 4'9". See exemptions, smoking law, and penalty.
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Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Fact Check
75 Pa.C.S. 4581 requires rear-facing under 2, a restraint through age 3, and a booster plus seat belt through age 7. See the $75 fine and debunked airbag claim.
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Rhode Island Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Facts
R.I. Gen. Laws 31-22-22 requires mandatory rear-facing under 2 or 30 lbs, then a rear-seat restraint under 8, 57in, and 80 lbs. See the $100 fine's 7-day void.
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South Carolina Car Seat Laws (2026): 4 Stages & Fit Test
South Carolina runs 4 car seat stages: rear-facing under 2, forward-facing, booster, then a belt fit test at 8 or 57 inches. See the $150 fine and waiver.
South Dakota Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Belts & Penalty
South Dakota requires a child restraint under age 5 (seat belt OK at 40+ lbs) and a seat belt for ages 5-17, under SDCL 32-37-1. See exemptions and penalty.
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Tennessee Car Seat Laws (2026): 5 Stages, Ages & Penalty
Tennessee stages car seats by age and size through age 15, under Tenn. Code Ann. 55-9-602. See rear-seat rules, exemptions, and the unattended-child law.
Texas Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Fines & Dismissal
Texas requires a car seat until age 8 or 4'9", under Transp. Code 545.412. See the $25-$250 fine, the $100-$200 belt fine, and how to get a ticket dismissed.
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Utah Car Seat Laws (2026): 57-Inch Rule & Penalty
Utah requires a child restraint until age 8 or 57 inches, under Utah Code 41-6a-1803. See the $45 fine (waivable), smoking rule, and unattended-child law.
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Vermont Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & Penalty Rules
Vermont requires rear-facing seats to age 2 and boosters to age 8, per 23 V.S.A. 1258. See 2026 penalties, the tobacco vs. cannabis rule, and citations.
Virginia Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Back Seat & Penalties
Virginia requires a child restraint device through age 7, under Va. Code 46.2-1095. See the back seat rule, 2026 penalties, exemptions, and citations.
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Washington Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster Height & Rules
Washington requires rear-facing seats to age 2 and a booster until 4'9" tall, under RCW 46.61.687. See the 2026 back-seat rule, penalties, and citations.
West Virginia Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Fine & Rules
West Virginia requires a car seat under age 8 (or 4'9"), per W. Va. Code 17C-15-46. See the 2026 penalties, the smoking rule, and neglect exposure.
Wisconsin Car Seat Laws (2026): Ages, Booster & Penalty
Wisconsin requires rear-facing seats under age 1 (or 20 lb) and boosters to age 7, per Wis. Stat. 347.48. See the 2026 back-seat rule, fine, and citations.
Wyoming Car Seat Laws (2026): Age, Airbags & Penalty
Wyoming requires a child restraint system until age 9, under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-1303. See the front-seat/airbag rule, the up-to-$50/$100 fine, and the waiver.