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Connecticut Child Passenger Safety Seat/Adult Seat Belt Laws

The following was taken from SAFE KIDS CONNECTICUT.

Child Passenger Safety Laws in Connecticut has been revised:
Effective October 1, 2017, new law, CT HB6956 has been implemented.  Visit this link to review the new law: https://legiscan.com/CT/text/HB06956/id/1561833

PUBLIC ACT 05-58

What are the Child Passenger Safety Laws in Connecticut?

LAW: Infants must remain rear-facing until they are a minimum of both 2 years and 30 pounds.

LAW: Toddlers must be in a forward facing car seat with a 5 point harness until 5 years and 40 pounds.

LAW: Children should ride in a booster seat until they reach 8 years old AND 60 pounds (they must meet both requirements). Children who ride in a booster seat must use a lap and shoulder belt.

LAW: Children, tweens and teens must be in a seat belt whenever they ride in a vehicle.

Further Recommended: Children should ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old. All people and objects should be properly restrained whenever they are in a vehicle.

For additional information: http://www.ctsafekids.org/child-passenger-safety/

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: CAR SEATS: INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES AS OF 2018

• Children should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, up to the limits of their car safety seat. This will include virtually all children under 2 years of age and most children up to age 4.
• Once they have been turned around, children should remain in a forward-facing car safety seat up to that seat’s weight and height limits. Most seats can accommodate children up to 60 pounds or more.
• When they exceed these limits, child passengers should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they can use a seat belt that fits correctly.
• Once they exceed the booster limits and are large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use a lap and shoulder belt.

All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.

CAR SEAT SAFETY CLINICS

Car seat safety clinics are offered periodically throughout Connecticut. Certified child passenger safety seat technicians will check for proper installation and usage, and can advise participants of recalls on a particular car seat. Call the State Department of Transportation for the dates, times, and locations of car seat safety clinics.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service names:
Child Passenger Safety Seats
Child Passenger Safety Seat Inspections

Connecticut Adult Seat Belt Law

A new seat belt law went into effect in Connecticut on October 1, 2021.  Drivers and front seat passengers MUST wear safety belts. All rear seat passengers aged 4-16 years old. also must wear a seat belt.  A fine will be given to anyone not abiding by the law.

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and information about seat belt safety, please visit the Connecticut Department of Transportation site: https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Safety/Highway/Adult-Seat-Belts

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SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP News; Connecticut Department of Transportation
PREPARED BY: 211/mm

CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: October2021