And its not like federally approved booster seats cost that much. Unfortunately florida law does not directly address at what height and weight you should use each type of car seat.
Florida Car Seat Laws A Complete Guide Updated For 2020
Florida car seat laws height and weight. However fl does not detail car or booster seat weight or height requirements. Florida law requires the use of seat belts or child restraint devices by drivers of motor vehicles all front seat passengers and all children riding in a vehicle under 18. Their weight has no bearing on this requirement. According to florida state law children between the ages of four and five should be in an approved safety restraint or booster seat depending on the childs weight and height. In fl anyone who operates a motor vehicle with a child passenger younger than six years old must secure himher in a federally approved child restraint. Floridas car seat laws are just that laws.
If your child or another child in your vehicle is not properly using a car seat or booster seat per the above florida laws you may receive a 60 fine and 3 points against your license. Floridas car seat laws come from florida law 316613 which is part of floridas traffic laws. You may be able to avoid the points on your license by attending a car seat safety course but that is at the discretion of the judge in the county where your. That can be anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds 272 to 454kg depending on. Beyond the law age weight or height for car seat safety decisions. Florida law 316613 says that all children 5 years or younger must have a proper car seat based on their age.
Safety experts also recommend that children use a booster seat at this age. Instead the florida statute only references age limits. Theyre not recommendations or guidelines. Visit our main car seat safety page to get information about manufacturer height and weight restrictions guidelines from health and safety organizations and additional resources including a car seat check station locator and car seat safety app for your smartphone. That said safety experts recommend that children should continue to use the forward facing seat until they exceed the weight or height limit of the seat. Floridas safety belt law is a primary enforcement law meaning that an officer can stop a vehicle and issue a citation simply for observing a safety belt or restraint.
Use a forward facing car seat until at least age 4 and until your child reaches the height or weight limit of their seat. But the statute does indirectly create child weight limits for each type of car seat because the statute requires parents to use a crash tested federally approved child restraint system. Child safety seats when used correctly reduce the risk of death by 70. Florida law doesnt restrict children under 49 from transitioning to a cars safety seat provided of course that the child is over the age of five. For that peace of mind you can pay as little as 15. This is normally around age four and a weight of 40 pounds.