Car seats and Florida laws

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Hi, I am posting a question for my sister in law. They are going in August and was asking me about car seats for her 2 1/2 yr old. We had one on our plane ride, so we used it in the car. I don't think they will have one on the plane. She was wondering if she needs one for the ride from the airport to the resorts. They are probably going to do a taxi or Tiffany towne car. can anyone help me out to help them? Thanks

 

[jwfla422]

Yes, absolutely. I thought it was a national law, but I do know that it is a definite here. I would never think of having my dd (who is also 2 1/2) ride anywhere in a car without being in a carseat, that's so dangerous. Of course, if your sister lives out of the country then she may not know.

I would tell her to contact Tiffany Towncar or whatever service she plans to take from the airport to DW, I'm sure they have carseats (don't know if they charge for them or not), but with the amount of infants and toddlers that go to DW I'm sure they have them.


<font color=red size=5>Tomorrow, tomorrow....at this very moment we'll almost be there!</font></font>

 

[Dr. Happy]

The only place we encountered a lack of carseat regulations for children was in the Caribbean, where very few vehicle regulations exist.

Virtually all states in the US require it. If yours does not, they soon will.

Anyway, why would you possibly jeopardize your child just because their might not be a law that requires carseats? I really don't need a law to tell me that it is much safer with than without...

Be safe, not sorry!!

 

[Kermit]

The easiest thing to do would be just to get an FAA approved car seat and take it on the plane. It's much, much safer on the air plane for the child to be in a car seat, and you'll know the child will be comfortable in the car. I guess it could be in the way a bit in the hotel room, but most rooms have a high shelf in the closet. Just put it in there.

 

[jlima]

My dillemma is the Cruise Bus - no seatbelts, so it's impossible to use a car seat. We're renting a van from National for the week we're at the parks but will use the Cruise bus to get to Port Canavaral.

I may just buckle my 16-mo old into the car seat, and sit it on the seat beside me, but it wouldn't be restrained. It's either that, or he sits on a lap for the 45 minute trip. I think it's absurd that busses aren't required to have seat belts. I may just take a Mears taxi or Tiffany Towncar, just so he's safe.

If National had a car rental office at Port Canavaral that would solve everything . . . but no such luck. Suggestions are welcome!!

 

[BevS97]

Not that I would recommend it, but I am pretty sure taxi's are exempt from these laws - crazy as that may seem.

as for the cruise bus, a few years ago in majorca we did the same - put my dd in her carseat, strapped in, and just placed it on the seat - there really wasn't any other option. We had the carry tot kind of seat as dd was only 8 months, and I was able to jam it pretty securely between the seats.
I have actually dropped this seat before (with my dd in it) when I was trying to put it into a supermarket trolley - and with the handle in the up position you effectively have a roll-cage, so even though my dd wasn't very happy - she was unharmed. (Poor thing was fast asleep - what a rude awakening.)

like I said, I wouldn't recommend it, but sometimes you just have no choice

Bev

 

[tjmw2727]

Children must use a carseat until they reach 4 years and 40lbs. This from the NHSTA 2001 State Guidelines.

We use Tiffany for airport transfer on the trips when we don't rent a car and they always provide a carseat. I would call ahead and have arrangements made. If you are using Mears Shuttle these are van's or large buses and don't provide carseats. I personally won't have my children take the ride from Orlando airport to WDW as the highways are quite busy and it a fairly long ride, YMMV.

TJ

 

[padams]

It is my understanding from Mears and Tiffany that while young children must be in carseats in private passenger cars, commercial vehicles such as cabs, limos, buses are exempt. Because Florida depends so heavily on its tourism business, the state has not applied the carseat law to the tourists according to Mears and Tiffany reps. Mears and Tiffany will, by the way, provide a carseat if you ask. If you have ever been to NYC, the rule is the same. You don't see "Manhattanites" hauling carseats around the streets to use in cabs, buses, and subway.

 

[BevS97]

It depends on what you are doing for the day - but if you have an older child then it is not always possible to carry a carseat around for the day -. Imagine you were getting a taxi to go shopping in New York City - what are you going to do with you car seat while you walk around NYC? Carry it?

I did see one man pushing 1 stroller with a carseat balanced in it around Epcot - but realisically this is not an easy option

I don't agree with it, and I have struggled with what the right answer is - I think those carseat/strollers are brilliant but they are very expensive and you can;t buy them in the UK. (http://www.strollertime.net/5-in-1.htm)


I'd love to hear how those parents that wouldn't ever ever ever consider going with a carseat, would cope in NYC, as we had this very problem in London last year and I was stumped for a decent solution. (We ended up taking London Cab's which are very solid, and leaving Katie in her stroller (They have room for a wheelchair))

Bev

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

We have experienced this dilemna as well. We have taken 13 month old dd on several trips now and have gotten her an airline seat each time. Therefore, we have our own carseat with us.

However, while in NYC for a visit in December, we only took a cab 2 times in 6 days because we could not use the carseat. The rest of the time, we put dd in the stroller and walked (and I do mean walked - we covered the city many times). I was just so uncomfortable with her in my lap in the taxi so we did it only when absolutely necessary.

We just returned from the 7 day cruise and once again took our carseat. We rented from Avis both to and from Orlando to the port so we could use our carseat without any problem. We did not use it while on the islands - no seatbelts and the cabs were just open air bus things in general. Once again, only 2 cab rides so as to minimize risk.

FYI - for the person asking about National, there is actually a National car rental counter only a few minutes away from the port. They will even reimburse you the taxi cost to and from their location. So, maybe this would be a better option for you.

I will ALWAYS use a carseat for my child when it is feasible but I do understand that certain occasions arise where you must be flexible.

 

[jlima]

AKASleeping Beauty - is this the National Car Rental in Coco Beach? My TA said that was the closest to the Port, but they didn't have a shuttle. Thanks for the info and insight!!

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Florida's new child seat law as of July 1 will be either 9 years of age or 4 foot 9 inches in height. From July to Jan they will warn....after Jan they will ticket.

I would check with the cab co's and the towncar companies on their rules and regs. I know I had to call a cab here to go and pick up my car from the shop and was told we MUST have a child seat if my youngest was going with me. Luckily we had an extra one at home.