Tennessee's New Child Restraint Law - It's What's Best for Kids

Effective July 1, 2005

• Infants under age 1 or weighing 20 pounds or less must ride facing the rear and in the back of the vehicle. Both age and weight requirements must be met before turning the infant forward-facing. If your rear-facing child safety seat has a weight limit, use it as long as the child's weight permits. Check the manufacturer's instructions.
• Children ages 1 through 3 and too big for the rear-facing seats, must ride in forward-facing child safety seats in the back seat.
• Children ages 4 through 8, less than 4' 9" tall, must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. They must use both lap and shoulder belts.
• Children ages 9 through 12, measuring 4' 9" or more, must buckle up. They should also ride in the back seat of the vehicle.
• Children ages 13 through 15 must buckle up.

These are primary offenses. Police officers can stop cars just because someone is not properly restrained. They can also give tickets with $50 fines.

For more information or to make an appointment to help you learn how to safely install your child safety seat or booster seat, call Safe Kids Mid-South, headquartered at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, at 901.287.6730.

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