Georgia child passenger safety law : what you need to know : new booster seat law effective July 1, 2011

Car Seat Recommendations for Children
Birth 12 months
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are di erent types of rear-facing car seats: Infantonly seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1 3 years
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
47 years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8 12 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to t in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to t properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it's safer there.

Governor's Office of Highway Safety
Georgia Governor's O ce of Highway Safety
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.gahighwaysafety.org
OR CONTAC T US AT:
7 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Suite 643
Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: 404-656-6996 Outside Atlanta: 1-888-420-0767
Fax: 404-651-9107
Photos courtesy of Georgia Tra c Injury Prevention Institute
06/2011

Georgia Child Passenger
Safety Law
What You Need to Know
New Booster Seat Law E ective July 1, 2011
Governor's O ce of Highway Safety
www.gahighwaysafety.org

Georgia Child Passenger Safety Law...What You Need To Know

GEORGIA CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY LAW (CODE 40-8-76)
E ective July 1, 2011, children under age 8 must be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat while riding in: Q Passenger automobiles, vans, and pickup
trucks Q Exemptions taxicabs and public transit
vehicles
The car seat and/or booster seat must: Q Be in the rear seat Q Be appropriate for the child's weight &
height Q Meet all U.S. Federal standards Q Be installed and used according to the
manufacturer's instructions

EXEMPTIONS:
O Children under age 8 whose height is over 4'9" or 57"
O The child's parent or guardian has a written statement from a Physician that the child has a physical or medical condition that prevents placing or restraining them as required by law. Parent or guardian should keep this statement in their possession.
EXCEPTIONS:
A child under age 8 and weighing at least 40 pounds is not exempt from the law. They may use a lap belt only instead of a car seat or booster seat when:
O The vehicle is not equipped with lap & shoulder belts; or
O Excluding the driver's seat, all seating positions with lap & shoulder belts are being used to restrain other children. In this case, the placement of car seats / boosters seats should be evaluated to determine if they can be repositioned to provide the best protection for all children being transported.
FINES:
1st conviction not more than $50. 2nd and subsequent convictions not more than $100
Points assessed against violator's driver's license:
1st conviction 1 point, 2nd and subsequent convictions 2 points

BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
Always read and follow child restraint
instructions for proper use of the child restraint system as well as the vehicle owner's manual.
Child restraints should be installed with
no more than one inch of movement from side-to-side or front-to-back (tested at the belt path).
Rear-facing child restraints should never
be placed in front of an active airbag.
Children should remain rear-facing
until they reach the upper weight limit or height allowed by the seat.
Children should remain in a booster
seat until the safety belt ts them correctly across the hips and collar bone.
Children age twelve (12) and under
should ride in the back seat of the vehicle whenever possible. The back seat is the safest position for children.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belt.

ALWAYS BUCKLE UP! CHILD RESTRAINTS AND SAFETY BELTS SAVE LIVES!