Children not covered by safety belt or child restraint laws

January 2009

Overview | Child restraint laws | Safety belt use laws

State
Alabama	15+ years in rear seat
Alaska	all children covered
Arizona	all children covered
Arkansas	15+ years in rear seat
California	all children covered
Colorado	all children covered
Connecticut	all children covered
Delaware	all children covered
District of Columbia	all children covered
Florida	all children covered
Georgia	all children covered
Hawaii	all children covered
Idaho	all children covered
Illinois	all children covered¹
Indiana	all children covered²
Iowa	11+ years in rear seat
Kansas	all children covered
Kentucky	all children covered
Louisiana	13+ years in rear seat
Maine	all children covered
Maryland	all children covered
Massachusetts	all children covered
Michigan	all children covered
Minnesota	11+ years in rear seat
Mississippi	7+ years in rear seat
Missouri	all children covered
Montana	all children covered
Nebraska	all children covered
Nevada	all children covered
New Hampshire	all children covered
New Jersey	all children covered
New Mexico	all children covered
New York	all children covered
North Carolina	all children covered
North Dakota	all children covered
Ohio	15+ years in rear seat
Oklahoma	13+ years in rear seat
Oregon	all children covered
Pennsylvania	all children covered
Rhode Island	all children covered
South Carolina	6+ years in rear seat without shoulder belt
South Dakota	all children covered
Tennessee	all children covered
Texas	all children covered
Utah	all children covered
Vermont	all children covered
Virginia	all children covered
Washington	all children covered
West Virginia	all children covered
Wisconsin	all children covered
Wyoming	all children covered

¹The Illinois law requires parents to provide child restraints to drivers who transport their children.

²In Indiana, children younger than 8 years must be restrained in adult belts if it's reasonably determined they cannot fit in child restraints. If the driver does not hold an Indiana driver's license, then children under 16 must be restrained by either a child restraint or a safety belt. Children weighing more than 40 pounds are permitted to be restrained by a lap belt if the vehicle is not equipped with lap and shoulder belts or if all lap and shoulder belts other than those in the front seat are being used to restrain other children who are younger than 16.