As a parent, you want your child to be safe in any situation, especially when they are traveling with you in a vehicle, because without proper restraint, there are more chances for your child to get serious injuries in the event of an accident.
In Idaho, it is highly advised to use car seats for children so they can sit comfortably and travel safely.
You should also know that if a parent fails to follow the rules and regulations set by the state, they can end up paying a lot of penalties and fees.
Car seat laws in Idaho say that parents should use a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat, and a booster car seat before they make their child sit with a car seat belt on.
However, some laws go according to the age, weight, and height of the children that must be followed before you put them on a specific car seat.
If you want to understand more about car seat standards based on age, height, and weight, keep reading.
I’ve also added some more car seat law guidelines that you won’t want to miss out on.
Table of Contents
- 1 Idaho Car Seat Requirements By Ages
- 2 Car Seat Weight And Height Requirements In Idaho
- 3 Type Of Car Seat Laws In Idaho
- 4 When Is The Time For My Child To Sit In The Front Seat In Idaho?
- 5 What Happens If You Leave Your Child In A Car In Idaho?
- 6 Taxi Car Seat Laws In Idaho
- 7 Idaho Law Regarding Car Seats In Accidents
- 8 Uber Car Seat Laws In Idaho
- 9 Conclusion
Idaho Car Seat Requirements By Ages
According to Idaho laws, children between the ages of 1-7 should be seated in a car seat but what about children beyond the age of seven?
Well, here I’ll talk about kids from one to ten years old so parents don’t become confused and can make informed judgments.
Read this section and follow the instructions to avoid trouble with the law.
1 Year Old
According to state law, a child who is one year old must always sit on a rear-facing car seat.
But if he/she exceeds the manufacturer’s height and the weight limit, which is more than 40 pounds, then he/she is allowed to sit on a forward-facing seat.
2 Year Old
For a child at two, the decent option is the forward-facing seat.
However, if your child is two but weighs less than 40 pounds, it’s best to sit rear-facing because it is the safest position for a child.
3 Year Old
When your child grows and is at the age of three, many experts suggest sitting on a forward-facing seat because it is the age when the child starts getting taller and might be hard to fit on a rear-facing seat.
However, it is different for every child, so if your child weighs less than 40 pounds, it is fine for him/her to sit rear-facing.
4 Year Old
Most rear-facing car seats are designed to fit kids up to 40 pounds. This means that the child can easily sit even at the age of four.
This is good because it is suggested to keep a child rear-facing for as long as possible. But if the child’s weight is around 40-65 pounds, it’s best to sit on a forward-facing seat.
5 Year Old
The same rules of sitting on a forward-facing car seat apply to a child at the age of five because, most probably, the child will be between 40-65 pounds.
You might, however, have to make some adjustments to the seat so it can create some leg space for the child.
6 Year Old
When the child is six, he/she is too grown for a forward-facing car seat. This means a shift to a booster car seat needs to be performed.
This is only applicable if the child weighs more than 40-65 pounds and has achieved a height of 4’9 inches.
7 – 9 Year Old
For a child between 7-9, the law says he/she should be on a booster seat.
At this age, parents can use a backless and a high back belt-positioning booster. Just make sure not to use lap belt positioning.
When the child is nine, he/she is probably too big for a booster seat which means it’s okay for them to sit with a car seat belt on. But only do this when the child outgrows from the booster.
10 Year Old
A child at the age of ten can sit with a car seat belt because it will fit and can buckle the child perfectly fine.
Car Seat Weight And Height Requirements In Idaho
If the child’s weight is 40 pounds or less, it’s best to sit on a rear-facing car seat.
If it’s up to 65 pounds, it is good to sit on a forward-facing car seat.
The height matters more than the weight of a booster car seat, so if the child’s height is 4’9 inches or more, then it’s best to sit on the booster seat.
Type Of Car Seat Laws In Idaho
The laws for different car seats are different from one another. You do not want to miss the details, so read it carefully.
1. Rear Facing Car Seat
In Idaho State, the laws state that toddlers, as well as infants, should only ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the age of 2 years old.
But do keep in mind that they should also meet the car seat manufacturer’s maximum weight which is 40 pounds as well as height limits less than 4 inches.
2. Forward Facing Car Seat
Children transition from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat after they have outgrown their rear-facing car seat.
You must know that kids need to remain in a car seat that is forward facing unless they achieve the automobile seat’s upper height and weight restrictions, typically four years old and 40 pounds to 65 pounds.
3. Booster Seat
A child restraint device is not essential for children under the age of 7.
However, the state recommends that kids use a booster seat until they weigh at least 40 pounds and are at least 4’9 inches tall.
Every person must, at the absolute least, wear a seat belt. A lap belt is not permitted.
When Is The Time For My Child To Sit In The Front Seat In Idaho?
According to the Idaho car seat law, children under the age of seven must ride in a child restraint procedure that achieves federal motor vehicle protection standards.
This implies that if your child is seven years old or older and wears a seat belt, he/she can legally settle in the front seat.
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, children must be at least eight years old and have a height of 4’9 inches to be suitable for a seat belt.
What Happens If You Leave Your Child In A Car In Idaho?
There are no laws in the state of Idaho when you leave your child in the vehicle.
However, you must know that this is something best to be avoided because it is still not safe and many children can end up hurting themselves if left unoccupied.
Taxi Car Seat Laws In Idaho
The Idaho car seat rules are waived when carrying a child in a commercial car, such as a cab.
When all of the car seat belts are filled by other youngsters, the law permits unrestrained riding in the back seat.
If you take your child out from a restraint seat to attend to sudden bodily demands, he or she may also be exempted.
When a child restraint device isn’t in place, you must keep your youngster in your arms.
Idaho Law Regarding Car Seats In Accidents
Idaho’s laws do not currently include any requirements for seat replacement.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the car seat does not need to be replaced if the crash is minimal.
However, to protect your child, the best thing to do is replace the car seat after an accident because the seat would not be as strong as it was after an accident.
Uber Car Seat Laws In Idaho
When riding in an Uber with a child, carrying the car seat with you is highly recommended because the Uber drivers would not have child restraints available in their vehicle.
Conclusion
To protect your child from the dangers of the road, it will be best for you to follow all the Idaho car seat laws.
You should also know that a child is a lot more comfortable in the child seat rather than with a seat belt on.
Furthermore, allowing your child to sit without sufficient restraint poses a significant safety concern since it may put their life in jeopardy if an accident occurs.
Other than that, you can even adjust the car seat according to your child’s weight and height, and mostly they are designed to last for years, so you do not have to purchase them every year.
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.
