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Home » General Information » New Florida Car Seat Rules Go Into Effect Today

New Florida Car Seat Rules Go Into Effect Today

My kids are 5 years and 7 years old. They are still in booster seats.  I always thought this  was

Nora in her car seat

Nora in her car seat

pretty reasonable. I also thought this was the law, but I was wrong. Until today, car seats or booster seats were only required for children up to age 3. Now they are required for age 4 and 5, as well.

Here is the official Florida statute:

316.613 Child restraint requirements.

(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined in this section, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.

1. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat.
2. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat may be used.
I think this is totally reasonable. In fact, a quick look at the recommendation flyer of the of the National Highway Traffic Safety Association includes recommendation up to age 12: "Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must  lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there. "

For complete Florida Child restraint requirements, click, including exceptions to the above, click here.

Hat tip to Tampa Bay Moms Group where found out about this rule change.

-Dr. Nate

2 responses to “New Florida Car Seat Rules Go Into Effect Today”

  1. Bailey says:

    With the shocking standard of driving in Florida maybe a booster seat should be used.
    Driving in Florida ……. Weaving between lanes ( Going nowhere )
    Texting & On the Phone .
    Trying to read Hand Held GPS while driving.
    Comment from Driver when I spoke to her as she entered Publix .
    I said to her that She nearly caused 3 crashes including a near miss of her own car , With her 3 children inside ,going into drain .

  2. Vicky says:

    Yeh this is totally reasonable. I am a pediatric nurse and anything that keeps our kids safer the better. Thanks for posting

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