Indiana Child Restraint Law Overview–Effective July 1, 2005
- Children are required to ride properly restrained in a child restraint, which can include a belt positioning booster seat, in all vehicle seating positions until they reach their eighth birthday. (This does not include shoulder belt positioners.)
- If first time offenders of this violation bring a child safety seat or booster to court, the fine will be
waived.
- Fees collected from violations will be entered into a fund to purchase child restraints for low
income families throughout Indiana.
Exemptions:
- If all lap/shoulder seat belts are being used by other children, then a child over 40 pounds may ride in a lap only seat belt without a child restraint. (Booster seats cannot be safely used with a lap only seat belt.)
- If a child is too large to reasonably fit in a booster seat according to manufacturer's instructions, the child may sit in a seat belt alone. (Boosters are currently available for children up to 100 lbs.)
- Additional exemptions include vehicles such as a school bus, ambulance, public passenger bus,
motorcycle and other emergency vehicles.
- Children at least eight years old until their sixteenth birthday are required to ride properly restrained in a child restraint system or
seat belt in all vehicle seating positions.
- Children sixteen and older (& adults) are required to ride properly restrained by a seat belt in the front seat in passenger vehicles.
Looking for tips on how to select the proper booster seat? Click here to view "Which Booster Seat Do I Need?" (PDF 452K)
AAA Hoosier Motor Club has Certified Child Safety Seat Technicians
They are available to check your child’s safety seat by appointment only at a AAA service center near you. Membership is not required for this service.
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