Child Passenger Safety
The chart below describes the statewide laws related to child passenger safety across the country. Use the arrows below the chart to toggle through the states in alphabetical order. To advance slowly, click the single right arrow (>). To jump to the end, click the double arrows (>>). Or use the filter by state feature to jump to a specific state.
Scroll down for a summary and overall totals of the number of states that have specific provisions.
Last updated in April 2024. Laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices in March 2024.
| North Dakota | Northern Mariana Islands | Ohio | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
Younger than 8 years of age and under 57" |
Child Restraint Required
Under 5 yrs Under 8 lbs or under 54" in booster seat Under 5 yrs, under 80 lbs, or under 54" in rear seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 4 yrs or under 40 lbs in child safety seat, following manufacturer instructions |
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs (or until outgrows the top height or weight recommendations) in rear-facing child restraint Under 4 yrs in child restraint 4-7 yrs and shorter than 4'9" in a child restraint or booster seat |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
Less than 8 yrs and 57” or taller |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
Over 5 yrs or over 80 lbs or over 54" |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-15 yrs |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8 yrs or over or 4'9" or taller |
Younger than 8 years of age and under 57"
Less than 8 yrs and 57” or taller
8-17 yrs
Under 5 yrs
Under 8 lbs or under 54" in booster seat
Under 5 yrs, under 80 lbs, or under 54" in rear seat
Over 5 yrs or over 80 lbs or over 54"
Under 4 yrs or under 40 lbs in child safety seat, following manufacturer instructions
4-8 yrs, over 40 lbs and under 4'9" tall in booster seat, following manufacturer instructions
8-15 yrs
Under 2 yrs (or until outgrows the top height or weight recommendations) in rear-facing child restraint
Under 4 yrs in child restraint
4-7 yrs and shorter than 4'9" in a child restraint or booster seat
8 yrs or over or 4'9" or taller
Child Passenger Safety
All states and territories require child safety seats for infants and children fitting specific criteria, but requirements vary based on age, weight and height. This happens in three stages: rear-facing; forward-facing (harnessed) seats; and booster seats.
Many laws require all children to ride in the rear seat whenever possible, and most states permit children over a particular age, height or weight to use an adult safety belt.
First offense fines for not complying with a state's child passenger safety laws vary from $10 to $500. Some states also use driver's license points as an additional penalty for noncompliance.
- Most states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require booster seats or other appropriate devices for children who have outgrown their child safety seats but are still too small to use an adult seat belt safely.
- 19 states and the District of Columbia require children younger than two be in a rear-facing child safety seat.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on child passenger safety laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and SHSOs.
Last updated in April 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.