Alabama Car Seat Laws

Keeping children safe in cars is one of the most important things parents can do. Car accidents are a leading cause of death for children in the US, and proper child safety seat use greatly reduces the risk of injury or even death. Unfortunately, 4.17% of children in Alabama are not properly restrained when riding in vehicles. That is why Alabama has stringent car seat laws to ensure kids are kept safe as they travel.

Alabama’s child safety seat laws require all infants and toddlers to ride in an appropriate car seat, according to their age, weight, and height. Once a child outgrows their child safety seat, they can move to a booster seat and then finally wear a lap or shoulder belt. It is important to follow the best-use guidelines published by experts and car manufacturers when choosing a child safety seat for your vehicle.

In Alabama, all children must use an appropriate infant or convertible car seat up to their first birthday, no matter the size. Once they outgrow their child safety seat, they can move to either a booster or a car seat with a built-in harness. They can then be secured with a seat belt in the back seat.

All children between 1 and 5 must sit in a booster seat until they reach age 6. Those who have outgrown their booster seats can then be used with a standard seat belt in the back seat of your vehicle.

Children should ride rear-facing in a car seat until they are at least 5 years old or 40 pounds, whichever comes first. Many experts recommend that kids stay rear-facing as long as possible for maximum protection in a crash. Some child safety seats have a higher rear-facing weight limit than the state requirement, and it is safe to use these if you are following the guidelines set by the manufacturer of your car seat.

It is illegal to have children without a child safety seat or booster in the back seat of your vehicle. If you are pulled over and you do not have a child in the proper restraint, you will be given a $25 fine. The state of Alabama uses $15 of this fine to distribute car seats to low-income families.

Parents are encouraged to check Alabama’s car seat laws and use the latest models of approved child safety seats. This will help to keep children safe and also prevent injuries to other passengers in the vehicle, including adult drivers. In addition, everyone in the front seat of a vehicle must wear their seat belts.

If you have any questions about Alabama’s car seat laws or would like to learn more about protecting your family in a car accident, contact our law firm. We will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.