Florida Child Seat Law

[pipe36]

Anyone know the specs for the state of Florida. Thanks.

 

[larryz]

Anyone know the specs for the state of Florida. Thanks.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/cps/CSSB.pdf
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html



"
The 2015 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL View Entire Chapter
316.613 Child restraint requirements.—
(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined in this section, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.
1. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat.
2. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat may be used. However, the requirement to use a child restraint device under this subparagraph does not apply when a safety belt is used as required in s. 316.614(4)(a) and the child:
a. Is being transported gratuitously by an operator who is not a member of the child’s immediate family;
b. Is being transported in a medical emergency situation involving the child; or
c. Has a medical condition that necessitates an exception as evidenced by appropriate documentation from a health care professional.
(b) The department shall provide notice of the requirement for child restraint devices, which notice shall accompany the delivery of each motor vehicle license tag.
(2) As used in this section, the term “motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle as defined in s. 316.003 that is operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of the state. The term does not include:
(a) A school bus as defined in s. 316.003(45).
(b) A bus used for the transportation of persons for compensation, other than a bus regularly used to transport children to or from school, as defined in s. 316.615(1)(b), or in conjunction with school activities.
(c) A farm tractor or implement of husbandry.
(d) A truck having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds.
(e) A motorcycle, moped, or bicycle.
(3) The failure to provide and use a child passenger restraint shall not be considered comparative negligence, nor shall such failure be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action with regard to negligence.
(4) It is the legislative intent that all state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, and safety councils, in recognition of the problems with child death and injury from unrestrained occupancy in motor vehicles, conduct a continuing safety and public awareness campaign as to the magnitude of the problem.
(5) Any person who violates this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318 and shall have 3 points assessed against his or her driver license as set forth in s. 322.27. In lieu of the penalty specified in s. 318.18 and the assessment of points, a person who violates this section may elect, with the court’s approval, to participate in a child restraint safety program approved by the chief judge of the circuit in which the violation occurs, and, upon completing such program, the penalty specified in chapter 318 and associated costs may be waived at the court’s discretion and the assessment of points shall be waived. The child restraint safety program must use a course approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the fee for the course must bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of providing the course.
(6) The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare as defined in s. 39.01 to comply with the requirements of this section."

 

[scrapquitler]

lorida Child Car Seat Laws
It is the responsibility of the supervising adult to ensure that any child under 7 years old is seated in a federally-approved child car seat. Failure to do so could result in a$60 fine and 3 points against your driver's license.

Florida law states:

• Children 7 years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system.
• Children 3 years old and younger must use a separate car-seat or the vehicle's built-in child seat.
• Children 4 to 7 years old must sit in either a separate car seat, a built in child seat or a seat belt, depending on the child's height and weight.

Use the following car seat guidelines from the FLHSMV while driving with a child in your vehicle.

• Birth to 1 year old and at least 20 lbs.
  • Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat of the car.
• 1 year old and 20 lbs. – 4 years old and 40 lbs.
  • Use a forward-facing child seat in the back seat until they reach the weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Switch to a booster seat in the back of the car
• 4 years old and 40 lbs. – 8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall
  • Use a booster seat in the back seat until your child is big enough to use the car's seat belt..
• 8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall –12 years old
  • Have your child sit in the backseat with a seatbelt.
  • At 13 years old, your child can sit in the front seat of your car.

 

[pipe36]

That about gives me all the info I need. Thank You.

 

[larryz]

lorida Child Car Seat Laws
It is the responsibility of the supervising adult to ensure that any child under 7 years old is seated in a federally-approved child car seat. Failure to do so could result in a$60 fine and 3 points against your driver's license.

Florida law states:

• Children 7 years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system.
• Children 3 years old and younger must use a separate car-seat or the vehicle's built-in child seat.
• Children 4 to 7 years old must sit in either a separate car seat, a built in child seat or a seat belt, depending on the child's height and weight.

Use the following car seat guidelines from the FLHSMV while driving with a child in your vehicle.

• Birth to 1 year old and at least 20 lbs.
  • Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat of the car.
• 1 year old and 20 lbs. – 4 years old and 40 lbs.
  • Use a forward-facing child seat in the back seat until they reach the weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Switch to a booster seat in the back of the car
• 4 years old and 40 lbs. – 8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall
  • Use a booster seat in the back seat until your child is big enough to use the car's seat belt..
• 8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall –12 years old
  • Have your child sit in the backseat with a seatbelt.
  • At 13 years old, your child can sit in the front seat of your car.

I originally quoted this material, but then I noticed it conflicts with the official Florida statutes, which is also quoted in my post. Florida law now states that children up to 5 years old must be in a child seat or booster seat -- no longer 7 years old.

 

[alvernon90]

8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall –12 years old

• Have your child sit in the backseat with a seatbelt.
• At 13 years old, your child can sit in the front seat of your car.

I know of no legal or scientific basis for insisting that 9-12 year olds sit in the back seat regardless of height. I cannot even conceive what body magic occurs on a kid's 13th birthday that suddenly makes it safe for them to sit in the front seat. If there is a statute or local ordinance which requires sitting in the back, these "guidelines" are are not guidelines at all, they are the law (however silly they may be). But if there is no real law, then these "guidelines" are simply nonsense that can be disregarded.

 

[larryz]

I know of no legal or scientific basis for insisting that 9-12 year olds sit in the back seat regardless of height. I cannot even conceive what body magic occurs on a kid's 13th birthday that suddenly makes it safe for them to sit in the front seat. If there is a statute or local ordinance which requires sitting in the back, these "guidelines" are are not guidelines at all, they are the law (however silly they may be). But if there is no real law, then these "guidelines" are simply nonsense that can be disregarded.

Which is why I quoted the law, and dropped the advice from DMV.org, which is NOT associated with any state or federal government.

If you click on the .pdf link, the brochure mentions the back seat advice. But even though the brochure has the Florida DoT seal on it, Florida law does not contain that restriction.

 

[22Tink]

Sorry to hijack, just double checking. If I'm wanting to take a taxi with DD7, will she need a booster seat or not? Thanks!