Child Car Seat Requirements

7
41-6a-1803
41-6a-1805
41-6a-1807
0
Child Car Seat Requirements
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jake Fitisemanu
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses child restraint device requirements.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
establishes specific requirements for the type of child restraint device used based on a
child's age and size; and
requires children younger than 13 years old to be transported in the rear seat of a motor
vehicle when possible.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
41-6a-1803
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 351
41-6a-1805
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 320
ENACTS:
41-6a-1807
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
41-6a-1803
is amended to read:
41-6a-1803
. Driver and passengers -- Seat belt or child restraint device required.
(1)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), the operator of a motor vehicle operated
on a highway shall:
(i)
wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt;
(ii)
provide for the protection of each person younger than eight years old by using a
child restraint device to restrain each person in the manner prescribed by the
manufacturer of the device; and
(iii)
provide for the protection of each person that is at least eight years old and no
less than 16 years old by securing, or causing to be secured, a properly adjusted
and fastened safety belt on each person.
(b)
Notwithstanding the requirement under Subsection (1)(a)(ii), a child under eight
years old who is 57 inches tall or taller:
(i)
is exempt from the requirement in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) to be in a child restraint
device; and
(ii)
shall use a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt as required in Subsection
(1)(a)(iii).
(c)
An adult passenger who is utilizing transportation network services described in
Section
13-51-102
or a taxicab described in Section
53-3-102
shall:
(i)
provide for the protection of each person younger than eight years old who is
under the adult's supervision by using a child restraint device to restrain the person
in the manner prescribed by the manufacturer of the device; and
(ii)
provide for the protection of each person who is under the adult's supervision
and is at least eight years old and no less than 16 years old by securing, or causing
to be secured, a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt on the person.
(1)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(1)(b)
, the operator of a motor vehicle operated
on a highway shall:
(i)
wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt; and
(ii)
provide for the protection of each individual younger than 16 years old by
complying with the child restraint and safety belt requirements described in
Section
41-6a-1807
.
(b)
A passenger that is 18 years old or older who is a passenger and using a
transportation network service as described in Section
13-51-102
or a taxicab
described in Section
53-3-102
shall:
(i)
provide for the protection of each individual who is under the adult's supervision
and is younger than eight years old by using a child restraint device as described
in Section
41-6a-1807
to restrain the individual in the manner prescribed by the
manufacturer of the device; and
(ii)
provide for the protection of each individual who is under the adult's supervision
and is eight years old or older and younger than 16 years old by securing, or
causing to be secured, a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt on the
individual.
(2)
A person
An individual
16 years old or older who is a passenger in a motor vehicle
operated on a highway shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
(3)
If more than one
person is
individual is in violation of Subsection
(1)
by
not using a
child restraint device or wearing a safety belt
in violation of Subsection (1)
, it is
considered
only one offense, and the driver may receive only one citation for that
offense.
Section 2. Section
41-6a-1805
is amended to read:
41-6a-1805
. Penalty for violation.
(1)
(a)
A person who violates Section
41-6a-1803
or Section
41-6a-1807
is guilty of an
infraction and shall be fined a maximum of $45.
(b)
Until July 1, 2018, a peace officer may not issue a citation to an individual for a
violation of Section
41-6a-1803
if the person has not previously been warned for a
violation of Section
41-6a-1803
but shall issue the individual a warning informing
the individual that operating or being a passenger in a vehicle without wearing a
properly adjusted and fastened safety belt is prohibited.
(c)
The court shall waive all of the fine for a first violation of Subsection
41-6a-1803(1)(a)(ii)
if the person submits proof of acquisition, rental, or purchase of
a child restraint device.
(2)
Points for a motor vehicle reportable violation, as defined under Section
53-3-102
, may
not be assessed against a person for a violation of Section
41-6a-1803
or Section
41-6a-1807
.
Section 3. Section
41-6a-1807
is enacted to read:
41-6a-1807
. Child restraint device requirements.
(1)
An operator shall restrain a child who is younger than two years old in a rear-facing
child restraint system that complies with all applicable federal rules until the child
reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system set by the manufacturer.
(2)
An operator shall restrain a child in a forward-facing child restraint system with an
internal harness until the child reaches the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer
of the child restraint system if:
(a)
the child is two years old or older; or
(b)
the child has reached the rear-facing weight or height limit as described by the
manufacturer of the child restraint system.
(3)
An operator shall restrain a child in a belt-positioning child booster seat, secured with a
vehicle's lap-shoulder safety belt, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions if:
(a)
the child is four years old or older; or
(b)
the child has reached the forward-facing weight and height limits as described by the
manufacturer of the child restraint system.
(4)
An operator shall restrain a child with the motor vehicle's adult safety belt adjusted and
fastened around the child's body to fit correctly if:
(a)
the child is nine years old or older; or
(b)
the child has reached the weight or height limit described by the manufacturer of a
child restraint system or belt-positioning child booster seat.
(5)
For purposes of Subsection
(4)
, the adult safety belt fits correctly if:
(a)
the child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat;
(b)
the child's knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat;
(c)
the safety belt fits snugly across the child's thighs and lower hips, and not the child's
abdomen; and
(d)
the shoulder strap snugly crosses the center of the child's chest and not the child's
neck.
(6)
An operator shall transport a child who is younger than 13 years old in the rear seat of a
motor vehicle, when available, in a properly used child restraint system, belt-positioning
child booster seat, or adult safety belt that is in accordance with all applicable federal
rules.
(7)
A child who because of age, height, or weight can be placed in more than one safety
category as described in this section shall be placed in the more protective category.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-16-26 1:29 PM