Child seat safety laws in Alabama
Alabama has laws that require anyone sitting in the front seat of a car, regardless of age, to wear a seat belt. Common sense is that you should follow seat belt laws because they are there for your protection. The law also protects people who are too young to exercise common sense by holding the driver responsible. Accordingly, there are also laws governing the restraint of children in vehicles.
Summary of Alabama Child Seat Safety Laws
Child seat safety laws in Alabama can be summarized as follows:
It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that all passengers under the age of 15 are properly buckled up, whether they are in the front or back seat of any type of passenger vehicle with a seating capacity of 10 or fewer.
Any infant 1 year or younger or under 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child seat or convertible child seat.
Children under the age of 5 and weighing up to 40 pounds must be secured in a forward facing child seat or a forward facing convertible child seat.
Boosters are needed until the child reaches the age of six. There are no exceptions in Alabama for children who are above a certain height and/or weight.
Fines
If you violate Alabama child seat safety laws, you can be fined $25 and receive demerit points on your driver's license.
Remember that proper use of seat belts and child restraints is the most effective way to reduce the chance of injury or even death, so buckle up, make sure you are using the correct child seat for your little passengers, and drive carefully.
