§ 61-9-420 — Child Safety Restraint Systems -- Standards -- Exemptions

61-9-420 . Child safety restraint systems -- standards -- exemptions. (1) A motor vehicle passenger who is under 2 years of age must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child safety restraint system that complies with federal motor vehicle safety standards.
(2) A motor vehicle passenger who is between 2 years of age and up to 4 years of age must be properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing child safety restraint system with an internal harness that complies with federal motor vehicle safety standards.
(3) A motor vehicle passenger who is between 4 years of age and up to 8 years of age must be properly restrained in a forward-facing child safety restraint system with an internal harness or a child booster seat that is secured with a vehicle lap-shoulder seat belt, whichever is applicable, that complies with federal motor vehicle safety standards.
(4) A motor vehicle passenger who is at least 9 years of age or has outgrown the height or weight limits of a child booster seat as set by the manufacturer, whichever comes first, must be secured with a motor vehicle adult safety belt.
(5) A child safety restraint system pursuant to 61-9-419 through 61-9-423 must be installed, adjusted, and used according to the manufacturer instructions.
(6) The department may by rule exempt from the requirements of this section a child who because of a physical or medical condition or body size cannot be placed in a child safety restraint system.

Legislative History

En. Sec. 2, Ch. 177, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 38, Ch. 431, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 407, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 280, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 692, L. 2025.