Help needed please about car seats/booster laws in Florida

[Twingle]

I know that my 3 y.o. twin daughters will need to ride in their car seats while we are in Florida (they are 39 inches and 37 pounds), but my 7 y.o. DS is 4'3 and 63 pounds, and I don't know if I need to bring his booster or not!


Any help would be appreciated!

 

[all4fun]

An Interesting Article

According to Florida’s car seat law (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram):

* All children 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.

These is the 5-Step Test to determine if he's physically read to be in just a seatbelt:

The 5-Step Test.

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

WWID? I would bring a booster for him...for a child his size, a backless one would be fine IMO.


hth.

 

[Twingle]

Thanks so much for the prompt response! I was planning on brining his booster - which is a backless model - but thans for the info.

Have a great day!