FAQ: When are child safety seats required?
Child Passenger Safety Laws:
- Pennsylvania Law requires all children under 8 years old to ride in a child restraint. (car seat)
- Children under 2 years old (or until they outgrow height/weight recommendations) should ride in rear-facing restraints. (seats)
- Children 2-3 years old are in a forward-facing restraint.
- Children 4-7 years old should be in a booster seat.
Seat Belt Laws:
- Pa’s Seat belt law covers all riders eight and over.
- Children 8-plus years old may ride with just a seat belt. Note that if your child is smaller in size, they may need to ride with a booster seat to ensure the seat belt fits them properly.
- Pa seat belt law applies to all riders 8-17 years of age and 18 and older in the front seat only.
Resources
Whitpain Township Fire Marshal’s Office provides child car seat inspections/installations free of charge as a service to the community. If you or a family member is expecting a child and/or needs assistance with the installation or information on the proper use of a child restraint (car seat), please contact the Fire Marshal’s office to schedule an appointment.
Email: mmaguire@whitpaintownship.org
Office phone: 610-277-2400 ext. 387
For more information, you can also check Safe Kids Worldwide at www.safekids.org