Child Passenger Safety
The chart below describes the statewide laws related to child passenger safety across the country. Use the arrows below the chart to toggle through the states in alphabetical order. To advance slowly, click the single right arrow (>). To jump to the end, click the double arrows (>>). Or use the filter by state feature to jump to a specific state.
Scroll down for a summary and overall totals of the number of states that have specific provisions.
Laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices in March 2023.
| Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
5 yrs and under and under 60 lbs |
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs and under 40 pounds or 40” in rear-facing car seat, following manufacturer instructions and in a back seat Under 8 yrs and under 57" tall in child safety seat or booster seat in the back seat, following manufacturer instructions |
Child Restraint Required
Under 1 yr and under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat in rear seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs or under 30 lbs in rear-facing restraint system 2-4 yrs or 30-40 lbs in child restraint system 5-7 yrs or 40-60 lbs in child restraint or booster seat Booster seats only with a lap and shoulder belt |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
6-14 yrs or 60 lbs and over |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
Under 16 yrs properly restrained, including a seat belt |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-15 yrs |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-15 years and 60 lbs or over |
5 yrs and under and under 60 lbs
6-14 yrs or 60 lbs and over
Under 2 yrs and under 40 pounds or 40” in rear-facing car seat, following manufacturer instructions and in a back seat
Under 8 yrs and under 57" tall in child safety seat or booster seat in the back seat, following manufacturer instructions
Under 16 yrs properly restrained, including a seat belt
Under 1 yr and under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat in rear seat
1-3 yrs and 20-40 lbs in rear or forward-facing child safety seat
4-8 yrs in forward-facing child safety seat or booster
8-15 yrs
Under 2 yrs or under 30 lbs in rear-facing restraint system 2-4 yrs or 30-40 lbs in child restraint system 5-7 yrs or 40-60 lbs in child restraint or booster seat Booster seats only with a lap and shoulder belt
8-15 years and 60 lbs or over
Child Passenger Safety
All states and territories require child safety seats for infants and children fitting specific criteria, but requirements vary based on age, weight and height. This happens in three stages: rear-facing; forward-facing (harnessed) seats; and booster seats.
Many laws require all children to ride in the rear seat whenever possible, and most states permit children over a particular age, height or weight to use an adult safety belt.
First offense fines for not complying with a state's child passenger safety laws vary from $10 to $500. Some states also use driver's license points as an additional penalty for noncompliance.
- Most states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require booster seats or other appropriate devices for children who have outgrown their child safety seats but are still too small to use an adult seat belt safely.
- 18 states and the District of Columbia require children younger than two be in a rear-facing child safety seat.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on child passenger safety laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2023.