Maine Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified
Table of Contents
Maine Car Seat Laws
Maine Car Seat Laws (ME Statute 29-A: 19, 2081)
What do the child restraint system and seat belt laws in Maine say?
- A child under 2 years must be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system or a convertible child restraint system secured correctly in the rear-facing position according to the manufacturer’s instruction.
- A child riding a convertible restraint system and has outgrown the recommended weight or height limit by the child restraint manufacturer for the rear-facing position may be properly secured in a forward-facing position according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A child over 2 years and weighing less than 55 lbs. must be properly secured in a child restraint system with an internal harness according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A child who has outgrown the recommended weight or height limit of the restraint system with an internal harness shall be properly secured in a belt-positioning seat.
- A child under 8 years, weighing less than 80 lbs. and is less than 57 inches in height, must be properly secured in a belt-positioning seat or other child restraint system according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A child passenger 8-18 years who have outgrown the manufacturer’s recommendation for the other child restraint systems must be properly secured in a seat belt.
- A child under 12 years should be properly secured in the rear seat, if possible.
More on the Law
- A seat belt must properly secure other passengers over 18 years.
- Exemptions:
- A person above 18 years who, for medical reasons, is unable to be secured by a seat belt shall have a written certificate from a physician, which must have been issued within a year.
- A child passenger who for medical reasons is unable to be secured in a child restraint system should have a written statement from a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or a child passenger safety technician with special needs training and also recommend a child restraint system the child could use that would improve the child’s safety.
- A person who violates the Maine car seat laws commits a traffic infraction and is subject to a fine of $50 for the first offense, $125 for the second offense, and $250 for subsequent offenses.
Maine Car Seat Laws Rear Facing
“A child under 2 years must be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system or a convertible child restraint system properly secured in the rear-facing position according to the manufacturer’s instruction.”
The law requires that a child under 2 years ride in a rear-facing car seat or a convertible car seat in the rear-facing position and according to the car seat manufacturer’s instruction.
Maine Car Seat Laws Forward Facing
“A child riding a convertible restraint system and has outgrown the recommended weight or height limit by the child restraint manufacturer for the rear-facing position may be properly secured in a forward-facing position according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”
The law says, if an infant is riding in a convertible car seat and outgrows the weight and height limit according to the car seat manufacturer’s instruction, the car seat should be changed to the forward-facing position.
The law further says:
“A child over 2 years and weighing less than 55 lbs. must be properly secured in a child restraint system with an internal harness according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”
That means once a child outgrows a rear-facing car seat, irrespective of if it was an infant seat or a convertible seat, the next car seat should be a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness.
When you are pregnant and planning a car seat to buy, a convertible car is recommended. It can be used as rear-facing and forward-facing. Here’s how to choose a convertible car seat.
Maine Booster Seat Laws
“A child who has outgrown the recommended weight or height limit of the restraint system with an internal harness shall be properly secured in a belt-positioning seat.”
Maine booster seat law requires that a child that has outgrown the weight or height limit for a forward-facing car seat, according to the car seat manufacturer, should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat.
The law defines it this way;
“A child under 8 years, weighing less than 80 lbs. and is less than 57 inches in height must be properly secured in a belt-positioning seat or other child restraint system according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”
However, car seat manufacturers recommend that a child ride in a booster seat from 8-12 years.
Since the law mentions “…or other child restraint system,” you should let your child under 8 years continue riding in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
A belt-positioning booster seat should be used with the lap and shoulder belt and not a single part alone.
Maine Seat Belt Laws
“A child passenger 8-18 years who may have outgrown the manufacturer’s recommendation for the other child restraint systems must be properly secured in a seat belt.”
Maine seat belt law requires that a child who has outgrown the rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats ride in a properly fastened safety seat belt.
Other Safety Seat Laws in Maine
Car Laws for Other Passengers in a Car
Maine requires that all other passengers above 18 years in the vehicle, including the driver, be properly secured by a seat belt.
Maine Car Seat Law on Front Seat – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?
The State of Maine clearly states that a child under 12 years should be properly secured in the rear seat, if possible.
This implies that the only exception would be a vehicle not equipped with a back seat like a single cab truck; otherwise, every other vehicle should have the car seat installed in the back seat.
This goes with the national guideline that children under 13 years should ride in the back seat.
On the other hand, the center rear is the safest location to install a car seat in a vehicle.
Maine Car Seat Laws for Ubers, Taxis, or Cabs
There is no mention of taxis or cabs in the car seat laws.
Nevertheless, it is safe to practice observing the laws when in a taxi.
Use the appropriate car seat for your child when in a taxi. And if you have an infant seat, you can easily install that without the base.
Can You Leave Your Child Alone in a Car in Maine? –
Maine does not have a law that officially prohibits leaving a child alone in a car. However, there have been situations where the police were called on a parent who left his daughters in the car and another where the mother was charged for leaving her 1-year-old baby alone in a cold vehicle.
Leaving a child unattended in a car can be risky as the weather can get scorching within minutes, reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Such a hot temperature can lead to heatstroke and cause death to a child, while extreme cold could cause hypothermia and frostbite.
You should 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 Maine?
It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle in Maine when a minor is present, even if the vehicle windows are opened. A person who violates the law commits a traffic infraction and is subject to a fine of $50.
Helpful Resource- Car Seat Inspection in Maine
Here are go-to resources for more help on car seat installation, car seat inspection, etc., in Maine.
- NHTSA Car Seat Inspection Stations directory – Inspection Stations Directory
- Maine Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Highway Safety – Car Seat Inspection Locations all around the State of Maine.
- Maine Bureau of Highway Safety – Car Seat Check Events
- Safe Kids Maine – Car Seat Inspections
- Town of Windham Fire-Rescue Department – Child Safety Seat Inspections
- City of South Portland – Child Passenger Safety – installations, questions, or installation issues.
- Bangor Public Health & Community Services – Child Safety Seat Program – car seat inspection on and car seat distribution.
- Westbrook, Maine – Child Car Seat Installations
- Central Maine Healthcare – Virtual Car Seat Assistance
- Promise Early Education Center – Car Seat Check
- Town of Scarborough, Maine – Child Car Seats Inspection
- City of Augusta – Child Safety Seat Inspections
- The Town of Orono – Child Safety Seat Inspection
