Car seat laws in Florida????

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I know it is a law for car seats, I just don't know if each state regulates their own laws, or if it is federal. Our state says kids need to be in a car seat until they are 4yrs old AND 40#. What is the law in Florida?

 

[welovedis]

Each state is different. FL law states:

All children under 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. (FL Statute 316.613).

They just put an age restriction on it, no weight or height restrictions.

HTH!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Thanks for the info! But I am shocked, if I am reading it right, then it means that kids over 5 years old don't need ANY car seat??????? We have the law that everyone needs to be seatbelted in. I just can't imagine not having to wear a seatbelt.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Princess Vija, they have to be restrained after the age of 5.
Reread what was written.

For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. (FL Statute 316.613).

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I didn't mean to say carseat, I guess I meant seat belt. This is where my question comes from....

All children under 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle.

What happens after 5? I don't mean to turn this into a debate, I was just surprised. If the law is that everyone has to wear a seatbelt, then you are right, I am not reading this correctly. I dearly hope I am reading it wrong, because seat belts save lives!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by PRINCESS VIJA
I didn't mean to say carseat, I guess I meant seat belt. This is where my question comes from....



What happens after 5? I don't mean to turn this into a debate, I was just surprised. If the law is that everyone has to wear a seatbelt, then you are right, I am not reading this correctly. I dearly hope I am reading it wrong, because seat belts save lives!

I think you are reading it wrong. I think the law means: up till the age of 5 you have the option of keeping the child in a car seat, booster seat or just a seat belt. After 5 you must keep them restrained. It is worded very poorly, and I can see the confusion.

This is from a site I found on the net. http://www.fpca.com/seatbelt.htm

(4) It is unlawful for any person:

(a) To operate a motor vehicle in this state unless each passenger of the vehicle under the age of 18 years is restrained by a safety belt or by a child restraint device pursuant to s. 316.613, if applicable; or (b) To operate a motor vehicle in this state unless the person is restrained by a safety belt.

(5) It is unlawful for any person 18 years of age or older to be a passenger in the front seat of a motor vehicle unless such person is restrained by a safety belt when the vehicle is in motion.

Hope this eases your mind. BTW, I totally agree that seat belts save lives, I have been wearing one since I started to drive some 38 years ago. I don't leave the driveway without one, and, noone is allowed to ride in my car unless they buckle up.

 

[E&B's Mom]

By the way, it is recommended that no matter what age, children under 80 lbs should have a booster seat in conjunction with th seat belt. Until they are of that size, a seat belt will not hold them in safetly in th event of an accident. I have a DD(almost8) who is very small, just 50 lbs. She still uses booster and probably will for several more years. To me the law doesn't matter, because most states have laws that are far less than what is recommended by pediatricians and safety experts.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[welovedis]

PrincessVija-sorry my post wasn't more clear--I has copied it from a FL transportation page but it looks like Gail cleared things up on that one.

I agree that most laws in most states are not comprehensive enough to protect children in motor vehicles. My 6 yo DS has never rode in a car without a car seat and won't until I deem it appropriate no matter what the law says. While I agree that FL's law is "lax" IMO, I was just giving the OP the info she requested.

HTH!

 

[E&B's Mom]

Good for you Welovedis. I just wish more parents would realize that their children's safetly is compromisd even though they may be complying with the law. Keeping little ones safe is the most important thing we can do a parents. I only wish more states would adopt as law what is recommended by the experts, booster seats until 80 lbs.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by E&B's Mom
Good for you Welovedis. I just wish more parents would realize that their children's safetly is compromisd even though they may be complying with the law. Keeping little ones safe is the most important thing we can do a parents. I only wish more states would adopt as law what is recommended by the experts, booster seats until 80 lbs.

I think it is the parents' responsibility to keep their kids safe and I don't think we should have laws to do that, I would like to think common sense and a sense of parenting, care and love would be enough. We legislate far too much!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by welovedis
PrincessVija-sorry my post wasn't more clear--I has copied it from a FL transportation page but it looks like Gail cleared things up on that one.

I agree that most laws in most states are not comprehensive enough to protect children in motor vehicles. My 6 yo DS has never rode in a car without a car seat and won't until I deem it appropriate no matter what the law says. While I agree that FL's law is "lax" IMO, I was just giving the OP the info she requested.

HTH!

I don't think it is lax at all, it might be just touching the basics, but, as quite a few of the posters have illustrated, they don't need the laws to keep their kids safe. They obviously have the common sense to listen to their hearts and minds and the experts.

That one you quoted was vague at best and was so easily misread, I wish they were more clear with important information like that.