Hawaii Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified
Table of Contents
Child Car Seat Laws in Hawaii
Car Seat Law in Hawaii (Statutes 291-11.5 and 291-11.6)
What does the child passenger restraints law in Hawaii say?
- Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers under 4 years must be properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system that meets federal safety standards.
- Preschoolers and school-aged children between 4-8 years and less than 4 feet 9 inches or less than 40 lbs. must be properly restrained by a child safety seat or booster seat that meets federal safety standards.
- Children aged 4-8 years and more than 4 feet and 9 inches in height or more than 40 lbs. may be restrained by a seat belt assembly instead of a safety seat or booster seat.
- The restraint system used must be installed in the back seat.
- Violation of these laws attracts the following penalties:
- First-time conviction: –
- a fine of $100;
- a payment of $50 for driver education assessment;
- A payment of up to $10 surcharge into the trauma system fund if ordered by the court.
- Second-time conviction: –
- A fine of not less than $100 and not more than $200;
- a payment of $50 for driver education assessment;
- A payment of $10 surcharge into the neurotrauma system fund; and
- A payment of up to $10 surcharge into the trauma system special fund if ordered by the court.
- A third-time conviction within 3 years of previous convictions: –
- A fine of not less than $200 and not more than $500;
- a payment of $50 for driver education assessment;
- A payment of $10 surcharge into the neurotrauma system fund; and
- A payment of up to $10 surcharge into the trauma system special fund if ordered by the court.
- First-time conviction: –
More on The Law
An exemption to the law;
- When the number of children in the vehicle exceeds the number of seat belt assemblies available in the vehicle.
- Operators of commercial and mass transit vehicles.
Rear-facing
The car seat laws in Hawaii do not mention a “rear-facing” safety seat.
But by referencing a “safety seat,” the different types of car seats apply here.
Therefore, you are to use a rear-facing car seat in the appropriate way as instructed by the car seat manufacturer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a rear-facing car seat be used for an infant from his first ride from the hospital and for as long as possible, up to 2 years, to an upper limit of 4 years.
Therefore, you should ensure you use a rear-facing infant safety seat for your baby under 2 years of age or less than 40 lbs.
While the car seat must be in the rear-facing position, there is flexibility to the types of car seats that can serve a dual and triple purpose.
Those are convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats.
A convertible seat can be used in the rear-facing position and later converted to the forward position, while the all-in-one can be used for a third purpose – a booster seat.
This guide will be helpful in choosing a convertible car seat.
Forward-facing Seat Laws
Hawaii car seat laws do not also mention a forward-facing car seat.
Going by the “safety seat” definition, the forward-facing car seat will be the ideal seat.
This child safety seat is to be used when your child outgrows the weight and height limit for a rear-facing seat as recommended by the manufacturer.
Belt-positioning Booster Seat Laws
Hawaii car seat laws mention a booster seat as a type of child passenger restraint system.
A belt-positioning booster seat is recommended for school-aged children between 8-12 years.
You are to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the manual on the weight and height limit before you transition to the booster seat.
However, Hawaii car seat laws permit the use of just the seat belt as long as this condition is fulfilled:
- Children aged 4-8 years and more than 4 feet and 9 inches in height or more than 40 lbs. may be restrained by a seat belt assembly instead of a safety seat or booster seat.
Seat Belt Law Hawaii
- All passengers under 8 years in the front or back seat must be restrained by a seat belt assembly or the appropriate restraint system (from earlier).
Exemption to the seat belt law include:
- A passenger with a condition that may prevent appropriate restraint by the safety belt. Such condition must be certified by a licensed physician, assistant physician, or an advanced practice nurse, and such condition and the reason must be stated. There is a lot of emphasis on safety belts in Hawaii car seat laws.
- A driver of a taxi.
- Violation of the seat belt law shall attract a fine of $45, a surcharge payment of $10 into the neurotrauma special fund, and may be subject to pay a surcharge of up to $10 into the trauma system special fund.
Other Laws About Car Seat You Need to Know About in Hawaii
Front Passenger Seat Law – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?
From this seat belt law:
- All passengers under 8 years in the front or back seat must be restrained by a seat belt assembly or the appropriate restraint system (from earlier).
It would mean a child under 8 may sit in the front passenger seat and be restrained by a safety belt.
However, this is not recommended.
- A rear-facing car seat must never be installed in the front passenger seat with the airbag activated. In the event of a crash, the inflated airbag can cause severe injury to the back of a child’s head. In the worst case, death.
- The back seat is where a car seat should be installed, in the middle precisely. That is the safest place for a car seat.
- You should also note that children under 13 years of age must ride in the back seat with a seat belt fastened properly or the appropriate child restraint system. The legal age to ride in the front seat is 13 years.
Taxis in Hawaii
Hawaii State exempts taxis (‘commercial motor vehicles) from the car seat laws.
Can You Leave A Child in Your Car Alone in Hawaii?
No.
Hawaii prohibits you from leaving a child alone in the car for more than 5 minutes. No child under 8 years must be left unattended or unsupervised for more than 5 minutes in Hawaii.
That is the “hot car law.”
Smoking Around Children in Cars – is it illegal in Hawaii?
Yes, it is illegal to smoke or vape in any motor vehicle where a minor is present.
Violation of the law attracts a fine, and it varies by county.
