car seat 2Child  Car Seats and Booster Seats

  • Florida law requires children age 5 and under to be secured properly in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.
  • Children ages 0 to 3 must be in child restraint devices or a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat.
  • Children age 4 and 5 must be in a separate carrier, integrated child seat or booster seat.
  • The best child seat is one that fits your child, fits your car and that drivers will use correctly every time.
  • Read the car seat’s instruction manual and the portion of your vehicle’s owner manual when you install a car seat.
  •  Remember to check for car seat and booster seat recalls.
  • According to Florida State Statute 316.2015 it is "unlawful for any operator of a passenger vehicle to permit any person to ride on the bumper, radiator, fender, hood, top, trunk, or running board of such vehicle when operated upon any street or highway which is maintained by the state, county, or municipality."

Safety Belts

  • Florida law requires the use of seat belts or child restraint devices by drivers of motor vehicles, all front seat passengers and all children riding in a vehicle under 18. 
  • Florida’s safety belt law is a primary enforcement law, meaning that an officer can stop a vehicle and issue a citation simply for observing a safety belt or restraint violation. 
  • Children should be in the rear seats until at least age 12, since deployed front seat air bags can be dangerous to a child.
  • Please reference Florida State Statute 316.613 for further information on child restraint requirements.