USA rules on child car seats..

[disneybarbie]

Hi everyone..

looking for a little advice..

I have booked a Limo from Orlando International to the Yacht Club at WDW for 5 adults & 1 child for July (next month!!)

The child is 4.5 years old .. the limo company, Tiffany Town Cars, have told me that they do not offer a childseat in Limosines.

Is a child seat necessary for children in the US? i know in the UK we have quite strict rules about children being in proper child-seats in vehicles.

Any info greatly appreciated!!
She's quite tall for a 4.5 year old, so sure she'll be fine sat in her own seat or on an adult's lap?!

Thank you!

Barbie

 

[CLEO Z]

As I understand it, a limo, like a shuttle van, or bus, does not require a car seat in Florida.

It always makes me to so nervous to not have my kid strapped into a car seat.

 

[tjmw2727]

As I understand it, a limo, like a shuttle van, or bus, does not require a car seat in Florida.

It always makes me to so nervous to not have my kid strapped into a car seat.

Actually in Florida Limo's, Taxis, town car or a van for hire, etc are not exempt from the child safety seat laws.

However, a 5yo is not required to ride in a child safety seat per Florida law so the OP can take her child in the limo. The child is required to sit in her own seat with a seatbelt however and obviously can't ride in the front seat.

TJ

 

[disneybarbie]

ok, thanks... I knew on buses (like Magic Express) there weren't car seats.. and I'm sure she'll be fine in her own seat.. I just didn't want to be breaking the law/ruin the surprise of a limo (everyone else in the party thinks we have a regular taxi booked!) because there was no car-seat!

Barbie

 

[CLEO Z]

Hmmm .. . . now I'm not so sure of my previous statement! I was sure I read somewhere that limos, vans, buses for hire were exempt, but I can't find it. What I found states that a child aged 4 to 5 can ride in a separate seat with his own seat belt. No holding on the lap. Here is the law I found at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=CH0316/SEC613.HTM&Title=->2001->CH0316->Section%20613 :

316.613 Child restraint requirements.--

(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, 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. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

(b) The Division of Motor Vehicles 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 the provisions of this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318 and shall have 3 points assessed against his or her driver's 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 the provisions of 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.

 

[CLEO Z]

Actually in Florida Limo's, Taxis, town car or a van for hire, etc are not exempt from the child safety seat laws.

However, a 5yo is not required to ride in a child safety seat per Florida law so the OP can take her child in the limo. The child is required to sit in her own seat with a seatbelt however and obviously can't ride in the front seat.

TJ

TJ, you have it exactly right! My apologies -I didn't read your post before making my next one.

 

[all4fun]

While FL law may not require a 5yr old to be in a car or booster seat, she would still be much safer in one. The laws of physics are the same here in the US as they are in the UK. If you have a backless booster, just bring that with you on the plane (obviously, you will either have to carry it on and stow it, or check it somehow, as it can't be used on the plane. Most airlines don't hold it against you if you check a car or booster seat). Make sure she's using it on a forward facing vehicle seat, not a rear or side facing one, and that everyone is using their seat belts, because anyone not buckled up will become a projectile in a crash. hth.