FL Car seat laws

[Jessica14]

We are headed down to WDW in December and will be renting a car. At that time DD will be one month shy of eight. DS will have just turned 6. Currently, they are both about 45 lbs and about 45 inches. Our NY state laws require a booster seat for their ages. They are both over the weight at this point, but my son is still under age and will need the booster for about two more years. We have backless boosters for local trips and larger seats(converted from 5-point harness) for longer trips and my husband's car that has lower seats and no headrests.

I've checked into FL car seat laws and it appears that although they would still need booster in NY, they will have long surpassed the need for them in FL. While I like the idea of not having to take up suitcase space with a booster seat, it makes me a bit concerned. Am I missing something or is it entirely true that my barely six year old can just sit in the back seat with nothing except the regular seat belt. Any thoughts on this whether you live in FL or have traveled around without the seats that you would normally use at home would be appereciated.
Jessica

 

[ancestry]

It is true. Florida has some of the weakest car seat laws in the nation. However, as I am sure you know, just because isn't doesn't violate the law doesn't mean that it is the best thing for your children.

 

[traveljunkie2]

I was surprised at this, too. I am not at all comfortable with my almost 7 year old without a booster, let alone my almost 4 year old without a booster!

The airlines will check carseats at no cost. You can also gate check any carseat if you don't want to check it with other luggage. If you put the booster in a suitcase/duffel bag by itself (no other items packed in that suitcase) you can check that bag at no cost. We did this on Delta in January.

 

[Jessica14]

Thanks for the info! It's hard to believe that my son would have "outgrown" the law in FL by two years, but will still need one here for an additional two years. Right now, I'd be leaning towards bringing them. The shoulder belts fit just perfectly right now and I don't imagine it would even be physically possible for them to grow enough in 5 months time so that it would then naturally fit them.
Jessica

 

[mmouse50]

I bought a booster seat to bring with me - it was cheaper than renting one from the car rental place and with my daughter and granddaughter coming a their flight alone - it was just too much to lug around in the airport she already has to worry about the luggage, umbrella stroller and child. It is still in the box but how do I mark it with my flt number and final destination?

 

[Jessica14]

I bought a booster seat to bring with me - it was cheaper than renting one from the car rental place and with my daughter and granddaughter coming a their flight alone - it was just too much to lug around in the airport she already has to worry about the luggage, umbrella stroller and child. It is still in the box but how do I mark it with my flt number and final destination?

I'm thinking from what was said above that you just put it in a small suitcase with nothing else and check it with the rest of your luggage. Yes it will be an extra bag, but not loose. I found the last time we went that we could get the backless kind into the suitcase with a bit of effort and had to put the other one in the overhead compartment. I have seen people check the ones with the back along with their regular luggage. It just gets a flight/destination tag as well. We also did this with our stroller.
Jessica

 

[bumbershoot]

It's HARD to find, but I went looking after my aunt told me that I was wrong about FL's lax carseat laws. She said that things had recently changed, and that it was nowhere near as lax as I thought it was.

She, her daughter, and her two grandchildren (7 and 3) live there, and she assured me that even the 7 year old is still in a carseat.

I finally found some more recent info by googling "florida car seat laws broward", which can take you to the Broward county page, where you see "Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" in height should ride in a booster seat." (which, just like here in WA, I take to mean "*at least* a booster seat")

My family lives in Port Orange right near Daytona Beach, and they say that that is the law for all of FL now, not just Broward County (which doesn't encompass where they live).

 

[WAMomof3]

It's HARD to find, but I went looking after my aunt told me that I was wrong about FL's lax carseat laws. She said that things had recently changed, and that it was nowhere near as lax as I thought it was.

She, her daughter, and her two grandchildren (7 and 3) live there, and she assured me that even the 7 year old is still in a carseat.

I finally found some more recent info by googling "florida car seat laws broward", which can take you to the Broward county page, where you see "Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" in height should ride in a booster seat." (which, just like here in WA, I take to mean "*at least* a booster seat")

My family lives in Port Orange right near Daytona Beach, and they say that that is the law for all of FL now, not just Broward County (which doesn't encompass where they live).

Oops! I'm leaving in a few weeks and thought I didn't need to bring a booster seat for DD#1. Guess it's a good thing we haven't shipped everything yet! I'll get that added to the list!!

Thanks!!

 

[Edd]

That is not the law for all Florida. The law for Florida is that a 4 year old can ride in a seat with a regular seat belt. any child under 4 must be in aa approved baby seat with the 5-point tie down. Florida law has no height or weight restrictions in the current law. The state law prevails over local or county laws, always. I would suggest you go to the current Florida Statutes which are the laws of the state of Florida, not google.

It could be an Obama bill, where you don't know what is in it until it is passed, so I guess I will check the July 1st bills that become effective to make sure I am not in violation.