Car seats are undeniably safe for children.
In a car accident, a child’s life can be saved and the danger of catastrophic injury reduced by using an age-appropriate and properly adjusted car seat.
That is why, in many places, including Alabama, child restraint systems are governed by tight rules and regulations that every parent living there must follow.
Car seat laws in Alabama assist you in gaining a better understanding of your legal choices and rights. Every parent traveling with a child should be seated in a car seat.
According to the laws, if the child is under five years old, it should be on a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat.
The shift to the booster seat and then to the car seat belt should only be done when the child outgrows from the other car seats.
Here I will be explaining in detail the rules and laws that Alabama has set for everyone according to their age, height, and weight, so make sure to read until the very end of this article cause you certainly do not want to miss out on anything.
Table of Contents
- 1 Alabama Car Seat Requirements By Ages
- 2 Car Seat Weight And Height Requirements In Alabama
- 3 Type Of Car Seat Laws In Alabama
- 4 When Is The Time For My Child To Sit In The Front Seat In Alabama?
- 5 What Happens If You Leave Your Child In A Car In Alabama?
- 6 Taxi Car Seat Laws In Alabama
- 7 Alabama Law Regarding Car Seats In Accidents
- 8 Uber Car Seat Laws In Alabama
- 9 Conclusion
Alabama Car Seat Requirements By Ages
Commonly, you will see the car seat requirements are mainly set for children from the ages of 1 until 8.
But here, I will also include the ages after eight so you can clearly understand what you can and cannot do.
Other than the age factor, experts also mention the height and weight limit allowed for a car seat.
So without further ado, let’s get into it!
1 Year Old
When your child is one year old, you must ensure that he/she is seated on a forward-facing car seat.
If your child’s height and weight are lower than required, they are allowed to sit rear-facing. However, many experts suggest keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is best.
2 Year Old
When the child is two years old, keeping him/her in a rear-facing car seat is still advised.
However, you can only make changes if the child has surpassed the manufacturer’s maximum weight and height limit for their automobile safety seat.
Though, the rear-facing position is considered to be the safest for a child.
3 Year Old
A three-year-old child will be secured on a front-facing car seat. Make sure the child is under 40 pounds, though.
It is also worth mentioning that the child must be seated on a forward-facing car seat with a belt for as long as feasible, up to the manufacturer’s maximum weight and height limit.
4 Year Old
When the child gets older at the age of four, but the weight is less than 49 pounds, they must be secured on a forward-facing car seat.
Do keep in mind that as the age changes, the child is also growing, so you will likely have to adjust the car seat so the child can sit comfortably.
5 Year Old
According to Alabama state laws, the child must be seated on a forward-facing car seat until age five. But height and weight factors are also important.
You will have to consider them as well. If the child is more than 40 pounds, he/she can also sit on a booster seat at age five.
6 Year Old
Some children grow faster while some take their time.
At the age of six, many kids will be going through physical development, so it means that he/she will be best suited for a booster car seat.
7 – 9 Year Old
If your child is between the ages of 7 and 9, then according to experts, your child can still sit on a booster seat.
However, this is not supported by the Alabama state laws because they suggest booster seats are only for children until six.
So, if the child is not above 4’9 inches tall and weighs less than 40 lbs, they are good on booster seats.
10 Year Old
Experts suggest that booster seats can be required for children until they reach the age of 15 years old.
So your child at the age of 10 will be fine on the booster car seat. Unless he/she is taller than 5′ and weighs more than 40 pounds, they should use a car seat belt.
Car Seat Weight And Height Requirements In Alabama
For car seat weight and height requirements in Alabama, you must know that if the child’s height is less than 4’9 inches, then it’s best to sit on a booster car seat.
Weight is another important factor to consider, a child over 40 pounds will not be able to fit in on a forward-facing or a booster car seat, so it is best to sit with a seat belt on.
Type Of Car Seat Laws In Alabama
Coming over to the laws for different types of car seats in Alabama, you must know that you must follow all the rules set.
Just so you know, these will differ depending on the sort of car seat you’re using.
1. Rear Facing Car Seat
In the state of Alabama, parents must use infant-only car seats and convertible car seats that are in the rear-facing position for their children that are infants until the age of two and also weigh less than 20 pounds.
2. Forward Facing Car Seat
When the kid has outgrown the rear-facing safety car seat, a seat which should be forward facing with a harness will be used.
By Alabama law, you must be at least five years old and weigh at least 40 pounds before using this seat.
3. Booster Seat
According to the Alabama constitution, booster seats must be utilized until a kid reaches the age of 6. However, experts advise against it.
According to experts, it is said that booster seats can be managed until your child is 15 years old.
If your child is less than 4’9 inches and weighs below 40 pounds, booster seats are a better substitute for seat belts.
When Is The Time For My Child To Sit In The Front Seat In Alabama?
The age at which your kid can ride in the front seat in Alabama is not specified. However, it states that a rear-facing car seat cannot be installed in the front seat.
According to various professionals, children can use automobile seat belts beyond the age of thirteen.
A car seat belt is considered safe when the lap belt is fastened across the upper thighs, whereas the shoulder belt is fastened across the chest.
Your kid is now ready to take the front car seat.
What Happens If You Leave Your Child In A Car In Alabama?
In Alabama, parents are not allowed to leave their children inside the vehicle alone. There are various laws, and if you are caught doing such an act, there will be some consequences.
It is said that you can leave a child who is under the age of nine unattended in the vehicle.
However, you must also know that a car with an internal temperature of 99°F or less is assumed to be safe.
Taxi Car Seat Laws In Alabama
Alabama is one of 35 states that do not require taxis to use child restraint systems.
According to the legislation, anyone transporting a kid must ensure that each youngster is appropriately secured in place.
Taxis, as well as all automobiles with a seating facility of 11 or more people, are exempt from the rules.
Alabama Law Regarding Car Seats In Accidents
If a parent fails to keep their child secure in a car seat, then they will have to pay a fine of $25.
You need to note that safety seat regulations are primary in the state of Alabama, so if you are not following the rules, then cops can stop without needing a reason for it.
The best way to keep your child secure is by replacing the car seat with a new one because a car seat that has been involved in an accident will not be safe anymore, and you will also be able to avoid paying too many fines.
Uber Car Seat Laws In Alabama
In compliance with Alabama law, Uber drivers must adhere to the state’s child restraint legislation.
These rules vary slightly from those that apply to normal vehicles like cars and trucks. A rear-facing car seat is required for children under the age of one.
At the same time, a car seat is required for children under the age of six. And lastly, seat belts are required for children aged 6 to 15 in all vehicles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, following the Alabama car seat laws will only be beneficial for you as well as your child.
It is important for your child to also be able to travel safely and comfortably with you.
With the help of this article, you will now be able to make wise decisions before switching your child from a rear-facing to a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat as well as to seat belts.
One of the best things about car seats is that you can take your child’s seat with you and adjust it quickly in a cab or Uber, ensuring that your child is safe at all times.
Aside from that, if you break specific restrictions, you may have legal issues.
I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.
