Child seat safety laws in Colorado
Colorado, like other states, has seat belt laws to protect car occupants. When these tenants are too young to protect themselves, then this responsibility falls to adults. Colorado is a little different from other states in that if there are children in the car, it is the responsibility of any parent present to make sure they are properly secured. In most states, the driver is liable, but in Colorado, the driver is only legally liable if there are no parents in the car.
Summary of Colorado Child Seat Safety Laws
In Colorado, child seat safety laws can be summarized as follows:
Children must be secured in an appropriate restraint system.
If the child is less than a year old and weighs less than 20 pounds, he or she must be placed in a rear-facing child seat in the back seat of the car.
If the child is 1 year old or older but not yet 4 years old and weighs less than 40 pounds, he or she should be placed in a rear-facing or forward-facing child seat.
Children under the age of eight must be secured in a child restraint system in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Children under the age of 8 but not older than 16 must be secured in either a child restraint or seat belt.
Fines
If you break child seat safety laws in Colorado, you can be fined $82. To avoid a fine and also to protect your children, make sure they always ride in child restraint systems that are appropriate for their age. Laws are there to keep your children safe, so make sure you follow them.
