Taxis with carseat

[jennab]

We will be staying on property and not renting a car. I was just thinking we may want to take a cab for a few of our resort meals (rather than trying to use Disney transportation to park then another bus). Do any of the taxis have car seats already in them? DS is 2.5yrs and I don't want to bring his car seat on the off chance we "may" take a taxi.... Anyone have experience with this?

TIA!

 

[tinkerbesh]

We took a taxi from Epcot to Pop and they did not have a carseat. We just held DS in our arms. I was too sick for us to do anything else.

 

[firecracker725]

We will be staying on property and not renting a car. I was just thinking we may want to take a cab for a few of our resort meals (rather than trying to use Disney transportation to park then another bus). Do any of the taxis have car seats already in them? DS is 2.5yrs and I don't want to bring his car seat on the off chance we "may" take a taxi.... Anyone have experience with this?

TIA!

No, they won't have car seats. You can hold him in your lap for the trip, if you're comfortable with that. Some people aren't, but it's perfectly legal.

 

[jennab]

No, they won't have car seats. You can hold him in your lap for the trip, if you're comfortable with that. Some people aren't, but it's perfectly legal.

Oh strange, I didn't know that was legal. I thought all kids under a certain height/weight had to be in a car or booster seat. For some reason I just assumed some taxis around Disney would have these in them as a lot of people have small children!

 

[Crl1817]

Most states have an exemption from car seat laws for taxis. I haven't checked FL's laws personally. If you aren't comfortable with no car seat, you might check on the ride safer vest. Your son may not be big enough for it yet, my dd hit the minimum weight around age three.

 

[abinormal]

Florida has some of the most lax car seat laws in the US, so I wouldn't be surprised if they exempted taxis.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

FL doesn't require boosters or car seats in taxis or town cars. Scary, but I understand why. Can you imagine if it was up to the taxi driver to properly install and maintain a car seat? They wouldn't leave them installed because that would take up a seat when not in use. And the seats have to be adjusted for each child. Imagine the liability if something happened and the parents sued the taxi company for negligence because the car seat was old, already in a wreck, or not properly installed.

 

[jennab]

Thanks for the insight! I honestly didn't know there were separate laws for taxis! On a short trip I would be ok with him on my lap.

 

[LONES]

Normally, when we've used taxi's at Disney, we've had bell services call for them. We've always just told them we need a car seat, and they've had them. Only 1 year did we need a 5pt harness seat. The taxi was a van, and he had it in the back. I had to install it myself. I will say.. it was pretty beat up and gross... but I figured better than nothing. Other years we've asked for boosters, and they've always brought them. I don't know if it's normal for the taxi's to have them, or if bell services is actually requesting that the cab they send has one.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Thanks for the insight! I honestly didn't know there were separate laws for taxis! On a short trip I would be ok with him on my lap.

Its not that there are separate laws, its that the laws only apply to private vehicles and/or public transport (including taxis) is exempted. At least that's the case in most states/countries.

 

[Gracie09]

Its not that there are separate laws, its that the laws only apply to private vehicles and/or public transport (including taxis) is exempted. At least that's the case in most states/countries.

It's not that taxis are exempt it's that the parents or guardians of the child are responsible for providing, installing and using the seat. If a cab with a child who is suppose to be in a seat is pulled over and the child is not in the seat. The parent gets the ticket not the driver. In a regular car it would be the driver that got the ticket

 

[ChitownFamily]

Thanks for the insight! I honestly didn't know there were separate laws for taxis! On a short trip I would be ok with him on my lap.

Wouldn't sitting in an improperly fitted seatbelt be a little bit better of an option? at least then in the unlikely chance of an accident, your body wouldn't crush him?

 

[jennab]

Wouldn't sitting in an improperly fitted seatbelt be a little bit better of an option? at least then in the unlikely chance of an accident, your body wouldn't crush him?

Very good point! I didn't even think about that, a much better idea

 

[Meldev]

We took a cab ride in 2010 from POR to Beach Club - our DD was 2.5 at the time and we rode in minivan style taxi. I sat her in the middle of the vehicle right beside me.
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

It's not that taxis are exempt it's that the parents or guardians of the child are responsible for providing, installing and using the seat. If a cab with a child who is suppose to be in a seat is pulled over and the child is not in the seat. The parent gets the ticket not the driver. In a regular car it would be the driver that got the ticket

Is this the law in Florida?

This is not the law in many places. For example, here is the law in New York City:

Drivers of yellow medallion taxicabs and for-hire vehicles and their passengers, are exempt from laws regarding car seats and seatbelts. Keep in mind, the TLC encourages everyone in the vehicle to buckle their seatbelts while riding in a cab. There are no Taxi and Limousine Commission rules regarding this, as it is a State exemption. Passengers with children are encouraged to bring their own car seats, which the drivers must allow passengers to install.
*NOTE - Children under the age of seven are permitted to sit on an adult's lap.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

It's not that taxis are exempt it's that the parents or guardians of the child are responsible for providing, installing and using the seat. If a cab with a child who is suppose to be in a seat is pulled over and the child is not in the seat. The parent gets the ticket not the driver. In a regular car it would be the driver that got the ticket

Wrong. The car seat requirements do not apply to chauffeur driven vehicles. A quick google search will tell you that.

 

[Crl1817]

Wrong. The car seat requirements do not apply to chauffeur driven vehicles. A quick google search will tell you that.

My quick google search contradicts you and supports that the car seat is the responsibility of the parent: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html. Read the last provision.

What did your quick google search turn up?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My quick google search contradicts you and supports that the car seat is the responsibility of the parent: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html. Read the last provision. What did your quick google search turn up?

When I'm wrong, I can admit it. I found the same section you did. You are right. However, the way it is worded leaves room for a legal battle if something happened.