What are Florida's car seat/booster requirements?

[hygienejean]

What is Florida's law about booster seats? I thought I had read that any child 4 and over does not need one. they can just use a seat belt? That just doesn't seem correct to me. Does anyone know?

 

[shafke]

Florida

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




http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/FAQ/faq_visitor.htm

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_Occupant.htm

There was some mention of the requirement being made stricter a few years ago... in a booster up until age 8 or so. The above links are probably about as official as you can get.

Also, try calling a couple of car rental agencies as they should also know the current laws.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by hygienejean
What is Florida's law about booster seats? I thought I had read that any child 4 and over does not need one. they can just use a seat belt? That just doesn't seem correct to me. Does anyone know?

Florida car seat laws are minimal - they did have a push a few years ago to increase the ages for CSR and Booster's but it was defeated.

Here is a current link - but children are only requred to be in a CSR until age 4, 4 and over must be in the back with a seatbelt. That said - I would just continue to do as you do at home!

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram/hsgp/HSGPAreas_OccupantFAQ.htm#Florida's%20Child

 

[frstimer128]

A good indicator if a child is ready to be out of a booster is to have them sit with their back fully against the seat. If their knees hang cofortably over the edge, then they are big enough for the seat belt. If they have to slouch to get their knees comfortably over the end of the seat, they still need a booster. When they slouch like that, the seat belt will not be postioned properly and they can have severe internal damages in an accident or even a fast stop. It happened to my cousins daughter and it was something you never want your child to go through. She was in the hospital for quite a while after that accident.

 

[hygienejean]

Thank you everyone! We decided to take the booster seat with us. He is 4 years old and I don't want to take any chances. Precious cargo you know!