Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified
Table of Contents
Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws
Pennsylvania Child Restraint Law Statute (PA Statute 75.4581)
What do the child passenger restraint system laws in Pennsylvania say?
A driver in the State of Pennsylvania operating a motor vehicle and transporting a child under 4 years anywhere in the vehicle shall have such child properly secured in a child passenger restraint system as follows:
- Infants and toddlers under 2 years shall be secured in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system until the child reaches the maximum weight and height limits as instructed by the manufacturer.
- School-aged children 4-8 years shall be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat.
- Children and adolescents between 8-and 18 years shall be secured in a properly adjusted and fastened safety seat belt system.
More on the Law
- A child restraint system, including a booster seat, shall be used as instructed by the manufacturer.
- Exemption: Exemption is allowed for a child who, for physical or medical reasons, is unable to be secured in a child restraint system, booster seat or to fasten a safety seat belt. A written statement from a physician, psychiatrist or other specialists shall be provided.
- Violation and Penalty: A person who violates the child restraint laws commits a summary offense and, if convicted, is subjected to a fine of $75.
Rear Facing Car Seat Laws Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania car seat laws require that children under 2 years be secured in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limits, according to the car seat manufacturer’s instruction.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recommends that children under 2 years of age ride in a rear-facing car seat installed in the back seat. The AAP further recommends that children can ride rear-facing for as long as possible, say up to 4 years.
As such, you are recommended to ride your child under 2 years in a rear-facing infant safety seat.
Also, note that a rear-facing car seat should never be installed in the front seat with an activated airbag.
Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws Forward Facing
Pennsylvania car seat laws do not mention a forward-facing car seat. But going by the instruction of ‘car seat manufacturer instruction,’ a forward-facing car seat is the next car seat a child should ride in after the rear-facing.
Car seat manufacturers instruct that children ride forward-facing after they have outgrown the weight and height limits of the rear-facing limits.
You can have the type of car seat that can be rear-facing or forward-facing. That is a convertible or an all-in-one car seat. The all-in-one car seat has an additional feature of converting to a booster seat. Here’s our best pick on convertibles and all-in-ones.
This will help you in choosing a convertible car seat.
Pennsylvania Booster Seat Laws
Pennsylvania car seat laws require that children 4-8 years be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat.
According to many child seat manufacturers’ instructions, a child who has outgrown the height and weight limit of the forward-facing car seat can ride in the belt-positioning booster seat.
A child is to ride in a booster seat until they reach the height and body size that can fit properly in a seat belt.
A belt-positioning booster seat must be used with both the lap and shoulder belts and never with the lap belts alone.
Pennsylvania Child Seat Belt Laws
Pennsylvania requires that children and adolescents between 8-and 18 years be secured in a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt system.
A child should be big enough to fit properly in a seat belt before doing away with the booster seat; otherwise, let them still ride in the booster seat.
Other Safety Seat Laws in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Safety Seat Laws for Other Passengers in a Car
The driver and all other occupants in a vehicle must fasten a safety belt.
Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws Front Seat – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?
The State of Pennsylvania has this clause in the child safety seat laws:
“…. who transports a child under four years of age anywhere in the motor vehicle,”
This implies there is no required age or seat position for a car seat installation in Pennsylvania.
However, many child seat safety agency advocates, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children under 13 years ride in the rear seat and are fastened by a safety seat belt or secured in a child restraint system.
Notwithstanding, the safest place to install a child safety seat in a vehicle is in the middle rear seat. Remember, a rear-facing restraint system should never be installed in the front seat with an activated airbag.
Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws for Ubers, Taxis, or Cabs
Pennsylvania does not explicitly exempt taxis from the child restraint laws. Taxis are not also included in the exemptions for the law.
The law says,
“…. any person who is operating a passenger car, Class I truck, Class II truck, classic motor vehicle, antique motor vehicle or motor home and who transports a child under four years of age.”
This implies every person who drives a car and transports a child in PA is subject to the car seat laws.
As such, as a parent, you should ensure to take your child’s safety seat in a taxi and install it.
Installing an infant seat in a taxi is not a difficult task. Depending on the car seat type and model, if it is with a detachable base, then you can install it without the base.
This resource on installing an infant seat without a base will come in handy.
Leaving a Child Unattended in a Vehicle in Pennsylvania
The State of Pennsylvania does not permit leaving a child under 6 years unattended in a motor vehicle under circumstances that may cause harm to the health, safety or welfare of the child.
A violation of the law is a summary offense and counts for each child left unsupervised.
A summary offense in Pennsylvania can only be expunged from your record after 5 years if, within the period, you have not been arrested or committed any offense again.
You don’t want such on your record, so endeavor not to leave your child unattended in a car.
Smoking Around Children in Cars – is it illegal?
There is currently no law that prohibits smoking around children in a car. However, a bill is in progress (as of September 2021) to ban smoking when with a child under 13 years in a car. If the bill is enacted, a violation will be subject to a fine of $100 and $250 for a first and subsequent violation, respectively.
Secondhand tobacco smoke is dangerous for a child’s health and causes several health problems, including severe asthma attacks, pneumonia, ear infections, respiratory infections, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
You want the best of health for your child so you can also remain happy while they are healthy. Therefore, you should try not to smoke when around your children, even at home.
Helpful Resource for Pennsylvanians
Here are some go-to resources for more help on car seat safety, installation, and inspection in Pennsylvania:
- NHTSA Car Seat Inspection Stations directory – here
- FREE Child Safety Seat Checks for all Counties – Pennsylvania State Police.
