Kansas Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified

Kansas Car Seat Laws

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Kansas Car Seat Laws

Kansas Car Seat Laws (K.S.A. 8-1344)

What do the child restraint system and seal bel laws in Kansas say?

  • Children under 4 years shall be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger safety restraining system that exceeds federal standards.
  • Children between 4-8 years and weighing less than 80 lbs. or measuring less than 57 inches shall be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger safety restraining system; 
  • Children 8-14 years or weighing more than 80 lbs. or taller than 57 inches shall be properly secured by a safety belt.

 More on the Law

  • If a seat location where a restraint system is to be secured has only a lap safety belt available, a child may not be secured in a restraining system but by a safety belt.
  • A person who violates the Kansas child passenger safety law is fined $60.
Flag of Kansas
Flag of Kansas

Kansas Car Seat Laws Rear Facing

The law requires that a child under 4 years be secured correctly in the appropriate car seat.

The appropriate car seat for children up to 2 years is the rear-facing car seat. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics further recommends an upper limit of 4 years.

On the other hand, you should follow the instruction of the car seat manufacturer according to the car seat model.

Kansas Car Seat Laws Forward Facing

After a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat (weight and height limits), such child is to ride in a forward-facing car seat.

A child can ride forward-facing from 2-4 years to 8 years old.

Kansas Booster Seat Laws

The Kansas car seat law does not mention the booster seat. A booster seat is recommended for children from the age of 8 years; however, the law says a child 8-14 years or weighing more than 80 lbs. or taller than 57 inches be properly secured by a safety belt.

For best safety practice, let your child ride in a belt-positioning booster seat till they are big enough for the seat belt to fit them properly, usually from the age of 10-12 years.

A belt-positioning booster seat should be used with a combination of the lap and shoulder belt and not a single part alone.

Kansas Seat Belt Laws

According to Kansas seat belt law, a child between 8-14 years or weighing more than 80lbs or taller than 4 feet 9 inches should be secured by a safety belt.

While it may be too early (at eight years) to introduce the safety belt as it may not fit properly, you should check to see if it fits on your child before switching to the safety belt.

You should also follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions on when your child would have outgrown the booster seat before moving on to the seat belt.

Michigan car seat laws - How to choose the right seat
Guide on Car Seat Types.

Other Safety Seat Laws in Kansas

Car Laws for Other Passengers in a Car

All other occupants of a vehicle above 16 years must make use of a seat belt.

Kansas Car Seat Laws on Front Seat – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?

The Kansas car seat law does not mention about a seat position for a car seat or where a child should sit.

Nevertheless, it is recommended that a child under 13 years ride in the vehicle’s back seat in the appropriate car seat for their age or a seat belt.

Kansas Car Seat Laws for Ubers, Taxis, or Cabs

Kansas does not mention taxis or cabs in the child restraint laws.

As a parent or caregiver responsible for a child, you are also responsible for their safety irrespective of the type of vehicle you may be riding. Therefore, you should use a child safety seat when in a taxi, cab, or car-sharing program like Lyft, Uber, etc.

Can You Leave a Child in Your Car Alone in Kansas?

Kansas does not yet have a law prohibiting parents from leaving a child alone in a car. A bill was introduced in 2007 to enact a law to ban leaving a child under 5 years without the supervision of a person at least 13 years old in a motor vehicle. The bill has not been enacted and is not present in the Kansas statutes.

However, according to statute 21-5601, (b)(1), “recklessly causing or permitting a child under the age of 18 years to be placed in a situation in which the child’s life, body or health is endangered.”

Leaving a child unattended in a car can be risky as the weather can be hot, and the vehicle’s internal temperature reaches over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in minutes. Such hot temperature can lead to heatstroke and cause death to a child.

Nevertheless, you can learn how to keep a child cool in a car seat during the summer and how to keep them warm during the winter. However, you should never leave a child alone in a car.

Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Kansas?

According to the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act, smoking is prohibited in most indoor locations, including taxicabs and limousines. It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle when a child under 14 years is present.

Helpful Resource- Car Seat Inspection in Kansas

Here are go-to resources for more help on car seat installation, car seat inspection, etc., in  Kansas.

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