Washington State Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified
Table of Contents
Washington State Car Seat Laws
Car Seat Laws in Washington State (WA Statutes 46.61.687 and 46.61.688)
What do the child restraint system laws in Washington say?
WA Statute 46.61.687
- A child passenger under 16 years being transported in a vehicle is required to be restrained in a safety belt system or as follows:
- Infants and toddlers under 2 years of age must be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system until the child outgrows the weight or height limit as set by the manufacturer.
- Toddlers and preschoolers under 4 years and who may not be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint must be properly secured in a forward-facing child restraint with a harness until the child outgrows the weight or height limit as set by the manufacturer.
- School-aged children aged 8-12 years, less than 4ft 9in. in height and have outgrown the limits for the rear-facing and forward-facing child restraint as set by the manufacturer must be properly secured in a belt-positioning booster seat.
- A child may continue to be secured in a booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder belts fit correctly on the child.
- The child restraint system must comply with federal standards and must be secured in the vehicle according to the vehicle and child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
- A child under 13 years shall be transported in a vehicle in the back seat.
WA Statute 46.61.688 – Safety belt
- Every passenger in a vehicle under 16 years of age must use a safety belt or be secured to an appropriate child restraint device.
More on the Law
- Irrespective of the type of car seat a child is secured in, the instructions as set by the car seat manufacturer for age, weight, and height requirements/limits and the installation process must be followed.
- Hire vehicles (taxis) are exempted from the Washington car seat laws.
- A person violating the State of Washington car seat laws may be issued a notice of traffic infraction.
Washington Car Seat Laws Rear Facing
The State of Washington explicitly mentions the different types of car seats to be used at each stage of a child’s growth; rear-facing, forward-facing, belt-positioning booster seat, and safety belt, which must be installed in the back seat.
By Washington state car seat laws, infants under 2 years must be secured in a rear-facing car seat installed in the back seat.
A child is to ride in this car seat until they outgrow the weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer.
This is in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants under 2 years should ride in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible (to an upper limit of 4 years).
Also, note that the center rear seat is the safest spot in a vehicle to install a car seat.
Washington Car Seat Laws Forward Facing
Washington state car seat laws require that toddlers and preschoolers under 4 years and who have outgrown the rear-facing car seat ride in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
A child is to ride in this car seat position until they have outgrown the weight and height limits determined by the car seat manufacturer.
You can get a convertible car seat which can be used in a rear-facing position and later converted to forward-facing. Here’s how to choose a convertible car seat.
Washington Booster Seat Laws
School-aged children 8-12 years, less than 57 cm (4ft 9in) and have outgrown the forward-facing car seat can now ride in a properly secured belt-positioning booster seat.
A child may continue to be secured in a booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder belt can fit properly on the child.
Washington Seat Belt Laws
When a child is grown enough for a fastened safety belt to fit on them properly, such child can begin using the vehicle seat belt. Usually, this can be between 8 and 12 years.
The State of Washington seat safety belt law requires that ‘adolescents’ passengers under 16 years must use a safety belt.
Other Car Seat Laws You Need to Know About in Washington
Car Laws for Other Passengers in a Car
All occupants of a vehicle, including the driver, must use a seat belt.
Washington Car Seat Laws Front Seat – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?
Washington car seat laws explicitly mention that “a child under 13 years shall be transported in a vehicle in the back seat.”
This is in line with the general law that requires children under 13 years to ride in the back seat. Above 13 years is the legal age for a child to ride in the front passenger seat.
On the other hand, a rear-facing car seat should never be installed in the front passenger seat with an activated airbag.
Washington Car Seat Laws for Ubers, Taxis, or Cabs
The Washington car seat laws exempt hiring vehicles. That implies Ubers, taxis, and cabs are exempted from the car seat laws.
However, your child’s safety is your responsibility as a parent. Therefore, you must follow the safe practice of securing your child.
When boarding a taxi or cab, you may need to install your infant car seat without the base. This guide will help you install a car seat without base.
Can You Leave A Child in Your Car Alone in Washington ?
It is unlawful in Washington State to leave a child or a minor under 16 years unattended in a vehicle.
Any person who violates this law is deemed to have committed a misdemeanor. On a second or subsequent violation, such person’s driver’s license shall be revoked.
Smoking Around Children in a Car in Washington – is it illegal?
Smoking around children in the home and motor vehicles in the State of Washington is unlawful.
Secondhand smoke is not suitable for a child’s health. It exposes them to many health risks, including severe asthma attacks, bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
As a parent, you are responsible for your child’s health. Therefore, you must not smoke around a child, both at home and in a vehicle, by this law.
Helpful Resource in Washington
Here is go-to resource for more help on car seat inspection
- NHTSA Car Seat Inspection Stations directory – here.
