While you are preparing for a hassle-free and exciting trip, it is important to guarantee a smooth and stress-free journey, especially if you are traveling with children.
Knowing about Georgia’s car seat laws is important before traveling there. This article is written to provide parents who love to travel with the information they need for a safe and enjoyable trip.
So let’s get to know Georgia car seat laws so that every mile of your trip is not only memorable but also safe for your little passengers.
Browse this Post
- 1 Official Georgia Car Seat Laws 2023
- 2 Georgia Rear-Facing Car Seat Law
- 3 Georgia Forward-Facing Car Seat Law
- 4 Georgia Booster Seat Law
- 5 When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Georgia?: A Question to the Safety of a Child Passenger
- 6 Smoking in Car with Children in Georgia
- 7 FAQs For Georgia Car Seat Laws
- 8 Conclusion
Official Georgia Car Seat Laws 2023
According to Georgia car seat law, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-76,
“Every driver who transports a child under eight years of age in a passenger automobile, van, or pickup truck…operated on a public road, street, or highway of this state, provide for the proper restraint of such child in a child passenger restraining system appropriate for such child’s height and weight and approved by the United States Department of Transportation under provisions of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 in effect on January 1, 1983…”
- Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
Understood in accordance with the above law, this rule mandates that drivers must use an approved child passenger restraint system for children under the age of eight as established by the United States Department of Transportation.
This is an important measure aimed at increasing the safety of child passengers when traveling in a vehicle on any road within the state of Georgia.
Georgia Rear-Facing Car Seat Law
Georgia’s car seat law mandates that children under a certain age and size must be secured in the rear-facing car seat. Generally, Georgia’s car seat law specifies rear-facing car seats for infants from birth to 1 year old.
These Georgia laws were enacted to prioritize the protection of infants and young children. This rear-facing position always provides additional protection in the event of a car accident. Georgia law generally limits weight to less than 20 pounds.
When using this rear-facing car seat, ensure the chest clip is in the correct position to keep the child’s neck and head secure. Besides, this seat also plays a useful role if the mother wants to feed the baby in the car.
Georgia Forward-Facing Car Seat Law
When a child outgrows the designated rear-facing car seat age between two and four years, they must give the child a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness when they are minimum 2 years old as per Georgia car seat law.
These seats are manufactured by manufacturers of forward-facing seats for children who have exceeded the weight and height limits of rear-facing car seats.
According to Georgia car seat laws, children over the age of 2 can ride in a forward-facing seat and must weigh more than 21 pounds.
Weight limits are very important considerations in this law. For example, if someone’s child is over two years old but weighs less than 21 pounds, Georgia state safety law requires that the child be placed in a rear-facing seat.
A five-point harness attached to a forward-facing car seat secures the child between the shoulders, hips, and legs. This harness helps to restrain the child’s body during a crash and also protects the head and spine from injury.
Georgia Booster Seat Law
Georgia car seat laws state that children can travel in booster seats when they are 8 years old and 4’9 tall, as recommended by manufacturers.
But when a child outgrows the maximum limit for a forward-facing seat, they can use a booster seat before age 8.
A booster seat is designed to allow the use of the car’s seat belt to protect children. If the car seat is properly installed, it protects the child’s head, neck, and spine from injury.
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Georgia?: A Question to the Safety of a Child Passenger
According to Georgia car seat law,
“ Georgia law requires children to ride in the back seat until age 8.”
The back seat of a car is generally a safe position for young passengers. The back seat provides a protective buffer against any collision, which provides additional safety to child passengers.
Keeping children in the back seat can also contribute to the driver not losing focus while driving.
Smoking in Car with Children in Georgia
Georgia’s car seat laws do not currently prohibit smoking while children are seated in vehicles.
However, a 2019 bill introduced in which the General Assembly petitioned to ban smoking in the presence of children was proposed, which, if passed, could lead to some changes in Georgia’s future car seat laws for smokers.
House Representative Sandra Scott proposed in House Bill 17 that smoking in a vehicle with a child under 13 would be subject to a criminal penalty, but the bill is yet to be written into law.
FAQs For Georgia Car Seat Laws
Can I Leave My Child in Car Seat Law in Georgia?
There are no specific laws regarding this issue in Georgia.
Although there is no specific law regarding leaving children alone in Georgia, a parent may face criminal charges if their child is left alone in a vehicle causing a hazard or accident, such as a hot vehicle, especially if the child is young.
Is There Any Taxi Car Seat Law in Georgia?
No, this taxi car seat law does not exist in Georgia. Currently, the only exceptions to the Georgia car seat law are taxi cabs and public transit vehicles.
Transportation network companies (TNCs) have not covered taxi cabs or public transit under any car seat laws. But if you want, you can carry your own car seat for babies while traveling by taxi.
Are There Any Upcoming Changes Going to Happen In Georgia Car Seat Law?
No, there are no such upcoming changes going to happen in Georgia car seat law.
Conclusion
Georgia car seat laws are an important commitment to providing safety for our youngest passengers.
These laws, outlining the rules for age-appropriate seat use in child restraint systems, play an important role in increasing the safety of child passengers while traveling on Georgia roads.
In addition, Georgia’s car seat law promotes awareness, encouraging parents to make car seat use a priority. By strengthening this collective effort, we can contribute to compliance with the law.
Some other Car Seat Laws
My name is Olivia Brown, and I’m a New York-based blogger and stay-at-home parent. Former business executive enjoying retirement and time with kids Lily and Max. On my blog, I review things for kids and offer my honest thoughts and insights to other parents who may be having the same or similar experiences.
