What are the laws about child restraint systems?

In the District of Columbia, it is required by law for all children who are under the age of 8 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches to be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat in the backseat. All safety seats and booster seats must meet the United States Department of Transportation safety standards, be properly installed, and be approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Children aged 8 or taller than 4 feet 9 inches must be properly secured in the vehicle with a seat belt. However, children may remain secured in a booster seat until they reach the age of 12 or taller than 4 feet 9 inches, whichever may come first. All drivers must ensure that all passengers are properly secured in the vehicle, regardless of age. Fines can be issued if passengers are not properly secured. All safety seats should be inspected before each use to ensure that they are properly installed and are not expired, cracked, recalled or missing parts. Any safety seat that has been in a crash should be replaced immediately and should never be used for more than one child. These laws are in place to help protect children and to ensure their safety in the event of an accident. It is important to always follow the law and to ensure that all children are properly secured while in the car.

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What are the laws about child restraint systems?

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