Laws in Alabama for Booster Seats
- Children must use booster seats under a specific age in the state of Alabama.child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com
Alabama has laws on the books in regards to how children must be transported safely in motor vehicles. The safety seat laws for children determine the specific restraint method used depending on the weight and age of the child. Booster seats are appropriate for children who fall between the use of child safety seats and adult seat belts. - In Alabama, children are required to use child safety seats until they are at least 5 years old or weigh 40 pounds, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety. The booster seat law applies to those children who weigh more than 40 pounds, but are still too young to use an adult seat belt. Children must be in a booster seat in Alabama until they are 6 years old.
- The Alabama child restraint regulations determine the type of appropriate safety restraint in terms of weight, but height is not a requirement for the use of booster seats.
- Children up to age 15 are required to wear safety restraint system regardless of their seating position in the vehicle. Adult seat belts may be worn by children after the age of six. Adults must wear seat belts in the front passenger and drivers seats of the vehicle after the age of 15. Booster seats allow a child to wear an adult seat belt safely and comfortably. Adult safety belts are not appropriate for a smaller child who cannot wear the belt over the lap and across the shoulder safely.
- Any driver that violates the child restraint regulations will be given a fine of $25 for each offense. The state uses $15 of each fine to help low- income families purchase age appropriate safety seats. Alabama also imposes points on violators driving record to deter repeat offenses. The first violation of the child safety restraint regulation earns a driver one point on the driving record. Second and each subsequent offense of the regulation earn a driver two points on the record. Drivers who accumulate 12 or more points on their driving record face suspension of driving privileges in Alabama.
- The booster seat law does not apply to taxicabs and vehicles that are carrying more than 11 passengers, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
