South Carolina Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified
Table of Contents
South Carolina Car Seat Laws
The State of South Carolina Car Seat Laws (SC Statutes 56-5-6520 and 56-5-6410)
SC Statute 56-5-6410 – Child passenger restraint system
What do the child passenger restraint system laws in South Carolina say?
Every driver in the State of South Carolina transporting a child under 8 years must have such child properly secured in the vehicle as follows:
- Infants or toddlers under 2 years must be properly secured in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system in the back seat until the child outgrows the height or weight limit allowed by the child restraint system manufacturer.
- Toddlers at least 2 years or under 2 years who have outgrown the height or weight limit for the rear-facing restraint system must be properly secured in a forward-facing child passenger restraint system with a harness in the back seat until the child outgrows the height or weight limit allowed for the forward-facing child restraint system.
- Preschoolers at least 4 years who has outgrown the limits for the forward-facing restraint system must be properly secured by a belt-positioning booster seat in the back seat until the child reaches the height and size to fit in an adult safety seat belt.
- The belt-positioning booster seat must be used with the lap and shoulder belts. It must not be used with a lap belt alone.
- School-aged children at least 8 years or at least 57 inches may be secured by an adult safety seat belt if the safety belt can properly secure the child. A child is properly secured if:
- The lap belt part must fit across the child’s thighs and hips and not across the abdomen;
- The shoulder belt part must cross the center of the child’s chest and not the neck; and
- The child is able to sit all the way in the vehicle seat with his back flat against the seatback with his knees bent over the seat edge.
SC Statute 56-5-6520 – Seat belt laws
The driver and every occupant of a motor vehicle must fasten a safety seat belt. Each occupant 17 years or under must wear a safety belt or be secured in a child restraint system as provided in the Child passenger restraint system statute – SC Statute 56-5-6410.
More on the Law
- Front-seat law: if the back seat positions are occupied by children under 8 years, a child under 8 years may be properly secured in the front seat in an appropriate child restraint system or a belt-positioning booster seat.
- Exemptions:
- A child who, for medical reasons, may not be able to be transported in a standard child restraint system.
- A written statement from a physician, advanced nurse practitioner, or physician assistant should be provided. Such child may be transported in a modified child passenger restraint system designed for their need.
- Taxi drivers, public transport operators, commercial vehicles.
- A child who, for medical reasons, may not be able to be transported in a standard child restraint system.
- Violation and Penalty: A violation of the law shall attract a fine of not more than $150 for a child restraint system and $25 for the safety belt.
South Carolina Child Car Seat Laws Rear-Facing
South Carolina car seat laws require that children under 2 years ride in a rear-facing car seat in the vehicle’s back seat until they outgrow the height and weight limits set by the car seat manufacturer.
This conforms with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children under 2 years ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Therefore, a child under 2 years must be properly secured in a rear-facing infant car seat in the back seat in South Carolina.
South Carolina State Car Seat Laws Forward-Facing
The State’s safety seat laws require that a child who has outgrown their rear-facing weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer be transitioned to a forward-facing car seat and installed in the back seat.
A forward-facing car seat is to be introduced when a child outgrows the height and weight limit for the rear-facing infant seat.
A child is to remain in a forward-facing car seat until they outgrow the height and weight limits allowed by the manufacturer.
To save you more money in the long term, a convertible car seat can be used. Such car seats can be used in a rear-facing and later converted to forward-facing. This will be a good option when considering a car seat to buy during pregnancy. This guide will help you in choosing a convertible car seat.
South Carolina Booster Seat Laws
South Carolina car seat laws requires that a child at least 4 years old who has outgrown the forward-facing safety seat be properly secured in a belt-positioning booster seat installed in the back seat.
A child is to ride in such a booster seat until they reach the height and size that can fit properly in a safety seat belt.
A belt-positioning booster seat must be used with both the lap and shoulder belt. The lap belt must not be used alone.
South Carolina Child Seat Belt Laws
South Carolina child seat belt laws require that an adult safety seat belt secure school-aged children at least 8 years old or 57 inches.
South Carolina provides the following guidelines to determine if the child properly fits in a safety seat belt:
- The lap belt part must fit across the child’s thighs and hips and not across the abdomen;
- The shoulder belt part must cross the center of the child’s chest and not the neck; and
- The child is able to sit all the way in the vehicle seat with his back flat against the seatback with his knees bent over the seat edge.
A child will ideally fit in a seat belt between 8-and 12 years.
The South Carolina car seat laws adopt the types of car seats by age which follows the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This is the best safety practice you can adopt for your child to ensure your child is protected in the event of a car crash.
We really hope to keep our children in their most vulnerable moments and experience the joy of parenthood all through their growth and development.
Other Safety Seat Laws You Need to Know About in South Carolina
South Carolina Safety Seat Laws for Other Passengers in a Car
The driver and all other occupants in a vehicle must fasten a safety seat belt.
South Carolina Car Seat Laws Front Seat – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?
South Carolina car seat laws mention the back seat position for all the car seat types.
The only exception is when the rear seat positions are occupied by other children under 8 years, then can a child under 8 years sit in the front seat in an appropriate car seat or a belt-positioning booster seat. Or if the vehicle does not have a back seat like a single cab truck.
On the other hand, children under 13 years are to ride in the rear seat with the vehicle seat belt fastened correctly or in a child restraint system.
Furthermore, note that a rear-facing infant car seat must never be installed in the front seat with an activated airbag.
The safest spot to install a restraint system is the middle back seat, away from the side windows.
South Carolina Car Seat Laws for Ubers, Taxis, or Cabs
South Carolina exempts taxi drivers from the car seat laws.
Nevertheless, as a parent or legal guardian of a child, you are still responsible for your child’s safety. As such, you should use the appropriate car seat when boarding a taxi, cab, or Uber.
You will need this additional resource when boarding a taxi or Uber. You may need to install your child’s car seat without the base. This will guide you in installing the infant seat without base.
Can You Leave a Child Alone in the Vehicle in South Carolina?
The State of South Carolina does not have a law prohibiting leaving a child unattended in a car; although a bill was proposed in 2009/2010, it was not passed.
It is still not recommended that you leave a child unattended in a car.
It is estimated that every year, between 30-and 50 babies die due to hypothermia and heat illness in the U. S. after being left in a car.
Therefore, ensure to not leave your child in the car alone.
Smoking Around Children in a Car in South Carolina – is it illegal?
There are also no laws that prohibit smoking in a car with children around in South Carolina.
However, you should note that secondhand smoke is not good for a child’s health and can predispose them to health risks, including severe asthma attacks, pneumonia, ear infections, respiratory infections, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
You should ensure not to smoke around children when in a car, even if the windows are low.
Helpful Resource in South Carolina
Here are some go-to resources for more help on car seat safety, installation, and inspection in South Carolina:
- NHTSA Car Seat Inspection Stations directory – here
- Safe Kids Car Seat Inspection – South Carolina
- Car Seat Installation – the City of Sumter
- Car Seat Inspections – the City of Greer
- South Carolina Department of Public Safety – All on Child Passenger Safety
