lawyer

Florida Child Restraint Law

Under Florida's child restraint law, you must use a child safety seat when transporting children through the age of 3. The state gives parents and other motorists the option of using a child restraint device or an adult seat belt for children who are 4 or 5 years old. Relative to other states, this portion of Florida's law is weak. A review of the GHSA's listing of state child passenger safety laws reveals that most states require child restraint use for kids of booster seat age, which is generally between 4 and 8 years of age.

Enforcement

Compared to most other states, as of April , the enforcement section of Florida's child restraint regulations is strong. The Sunshine State applies three points to the drivers license of a violator of the law. The maximum fine for a first offense, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), is $60. The state waives these penalties upon completion of a court-approved child restraint safety program. The seat belt law, notes IIHS, carries a maximum fine of $30 for a first offense.

Booster Seat Use

Florida stops far short of expert recommendations for safe and effective child passenger restraint use. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends booster seats for school-aged children until they reach 4-foot-9-inches-tall. AAP urges parents to keep children in a forward-facing car seat with five-point harness until they outgrow this device. At that point, generally around 4 years old and 40 lbs. parents should secure children in a booster seat in conjunction with their vehicle's shoulder/lap belt.