Car Seat Law in Florida

[maciec]

Can anyone tell me what the car seat law is in Florida? In MD regardless of weight a child has to be in a car seat until the age of 5 and then in a booster seat until I don't know when.

The reason I ask this question is because I have talked to several towncar companies and they insist on putting my 2 year old daughter in a booster seat. Can anyone tell me what the booster seats looks like? What I am picturing is a little seat with just a lap bar to hold the child in or is it a big kid booster seat?

It just doesn't seem safe to me to put a 2yo in a booster seat.

I did decide to go with Cartier and they assured me that they will bring a car seat.

Thanks!

 

[Libbysmom2000]

Unfortunately, I don't know the Florida laws but I'm just wondering if what the companies are referring to are the booster seats with the removable 5-point harness. With many states now having stricter laws I bet a lot of companies did away with traditional car seats and switched to these since they can accomodate a child from 30-80 lbs.

Just a thought.

Kate

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Hi,
This link should let you know all you need to know.


http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/html/Floridalaw/fllaw.html

 

[maciec]

I just got off of the phone with Cartier and the man who answered said that they are the little booster seats with the lap bars no the big kid ones. Which is totally not safe for a 2 year old. I am suprised by the Florida law.

 

[ducklite]

They don't really enforce the laws down there anyhow. I've seen kids riding around in the beds of pickup trucks down there many times.

Anne

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I am suprised by the Florida law.

Why are you surprised? I believe busses, taxis, limos are exempt from the seatbelt/car seat law for the pax.

 

[lookingforward]

I would NEVER accept a booster seat for a two year old! Regardless of the law, exempt or not, it is most definately NOT safe. Bring along you own car seat and install it in the back of the limo. I have done this many times. A limo is nothing more than a large car and offers your child no extra protection. I know it is not easy to schlep a car seat around but it is a small price to pay. I must admit that on Disney bus service I find it impossible to bring along the car seat but in a limo, on florida major roadways, it makes sense.

I live in Florida and I have seen many children not strapped in at all. I am not sure of their enforcement statistics but it must be low! Take care and be safe!

 

[maciec]

Gail,
I am suprised because I didn't reserve a limo, bus, or taxi. I reserved a towncar. They are not exempt from a child restraint device. IMHO any parent who would agree to put their 2 year old in an unsafe restraint device is a total moron. It suprises me that any state would have such a lax law when it comes to the safety of a child.

lookingforward,
I totally agree with you. I was very suprised to find that people and the state of Florida seem to find a booster seat an acceptable form of safety. Anyway, I am going to bring my own car seat. Better to have a safe child than a DEAD one!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

QUOTE] am suprised because I didn't reserve a limo, bus, or taxi. I reserved a towncar. They are not exempt from a child restraint device. IMHO any parent who would agree to put their 2 year old in an unsafe restraint device is a total moron. It suprises me that any state would have such a lax law when it comes to the safety of a child.[/QUOTE]

Oh, I have no quarrel with what you stated. However, you are renting a towncar, which by law, is registered as a "limo" or "livery", because it is a limo/livery service of sorts. Trust me, I am not impressed with the laxness (is that a word/) of the law. I go nuts everytime I see a child not restrained properly. In fact, I will say that I think any parent that does not see to the safety of their child should face neglect or endangerment charges to a minor for it and if a child's life is lost because of their laxness I think they should face manslaughter charges. I am very adament on this one. I was just curious about how you felt.

 

[SheDaisy0088]

I must speak up in defense of Florida laws!! Yes, alot of people here let their kids ride around without car seats!! There are the same # of people that put their kids in a car seat!!

That is one of my biggest pet peeves!! Unfortunately many people don't realize the problem until it is too late!! Where I live in Florida it is enforced quite a bit. Although for every person that is caught there are probably 2 that are not!!

To report violators of Florida's Seatbelt & Child Restraint Laws, please write down the vehicle's Florida License Tag number & call the Florida Buckle Up Hotline at 1-800-699-SAFE.

 

[NotUrsula]

Any chauffeur-driven vehicle is exempt from the carseat law in Fla.
Laws currently on the books apply to personal vehicles and self-drive rental vehicles.

There are movements in some states to require livery companies to have carseats for passenger use if requested, but I'm not sure any of those laws have actually passed, at this point.

 

[maciec]

I understand, but I don't agree with the " chauffeur-driven" vehicles being exempt. But then again I don't make the laws. Thanks everyone for your responses. I didn't know I would get so many responses.

For my dd's sake we will be bringing her own car seat so I won't have to worry about it. DH is a certified safety seat technician so I won't have to worry about the seat being installed incorrectly either.

Mel