Child seat safety laws in West Virginia
In West Virginia, children in vehicles must be secured using an approved restraint system. This is common sense and the law. Given that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children under 12, it is important that anyone transporting children in a passenger vehicle understands and follows West Virginia child seat safety laws.
Summary of West Virginia Child Seat Safety Laws
Child seat safety laws in West Virginia can be summarized as follows:
Children aged 8 years and older and 57 inches or older may use the vehicle's seat belt system.
Children under one year of age must occupy rear-facing car seats.
Children aged one to three years should sit in a rear-facing or convertible rear-facing seat until they are too tall or too heavy for that seat, at which point they can change to a forward-facing seat (usually around the age of four).
Children between the ages of four and seven can ride in a forward facing car seat with seat belts. The child safety seat must be installed in the rear seat of the vehicle. This seat should be used until the child is too tall or too heavy for the seat.
Children between the ages of 8 and 12 should ride in a booster seat in the back of a car until they are old enough to use the car's seat belt system. The waist belt should fit snugly around the hips, and the shoulder belt should fit snugly around the chest and shoulder.
Fines
Anyone who violates child seat laws in West Virginia can be fined $20.
The penalty for breaking the law can be low, but the consequences if you don't restrain your child properly can be incredibly severe. Make sure you always use a child seat or other approved restraint system.
