Car seat laws are crucial to keep your baby safe while traveling. Along with selecting and installing the right seat correctly, you must ensure that you follow the correct law that applies to your child.
Know the proper rules for your child. Understand the official Massachusetts seat rules by this article and apply them while traveling with your child.
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Official Massachusetts Car Seat Laws
Below listed are the Massachusetts official car seat laws. Let’s check out one by one.
1. Massachusetts Rear Facing Car Seat Law (0-2 years)
There is no proper rear-facing car seat law in Massachusetts. It says only the following.
According to Section 7AA, A passenger in a motor vehicle in any way who is under the age of 8 shall be fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint unless such passenger measures more than 57 inches in height.
The child passenger restraint shall be properly fastened and secured according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This is called the child passenger safety law in Massachusetts.
However, the government suggests that infants upto 20 pounds and upto one year should be placed in a rear-facing seat for safety.
The government also says that children in rear-facing child safety seats should never be placed in front of vehicles with passenger-side airbags because that may cause severe injury or even death.
It’s also better for the parents to know how long infant car seats can be used for better infant safety.
Talking about car seats, if you are planning to fly with a car seat, here is an excellent guidance for reference: Flying with a car seat
2. Massachusetts Forward Facing Car Seat Law ( 2-4 years)
It is the same as no rear-facing seat law in Massachusetts; there is no proper forward-facing car seat law. It has only the following statement.
Section 7AA. A passenger in a motor vehicle in any way who is under the age of 8 shall be fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint unless such passenger measures more than 57 inches in height. The child passenger restraint shall be properly fastened and confirmed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
However, the government suggests that children over 20 pounds and at least one year old or more than one year old may ride in a forward-facing car seat.
3. Child Booster Car Seat Laws in Massachusetts ( 4-8 years)
The law states that children who weigh more than 40 pounds and are under 5 years old must go for the booster seat.
The children who are more than 40 pounds and less than 80 pounds, as well as those less than 4’9” between the ages of 5 and 12, must opt for either a booster seat or a safety belt. A booster seat benefits the child because it helps fit the seat belt perfectly.
It also gives the children more comfort and better visibility to the parents. This law applies to all privately owned vehicles, including vehicles for hire and taxicabs.
4. Safety Belt Laws in Massachusetts
The safety belt laws in Massachusetts state, “ Any driver or passenger who is of age 12 and even older than 12 must wear a car seat belt in any motor vehicle whether it’s front seat or back seat”.
For violation of this law, $25 each should be paid as a penalty for the driver and any passenger above 16. The driver also must pay the $25 penalty for each passenger under 16.
The government of Massachusetts also suggests that the vehicle safety belt should place the shoulder strap across the chest, not under the arm or behind the back, for better safety purposes.
So these are the three primary essential rules you must remember while roaming the streets of Massachusetts. These rules show how many car seats you need for your children.
The rules of Massachusetts car seat laws only apply to some. There are some exceptions as well. Below are the statements provided by the government.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any such child who is
(1) riding as a passenger in a school bus;
(2) riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle made before July 1, nineteen hundred sixty-six, that is not equipped with safety belts;
(3) physically unable to use either a conventional child passenger restraint or a child restraint specifically designed for children with special needs, provided, however, that such condition is duly certified in writing by a physician who shall state the nature of the disability as well as the reasons such restraints are inappropriate; provided, further, that no such certifying physician shall be subject to liability in a civil action for the issuance of or for the failure to issue such certificate.
Also, the Massachusetts government explains the following about the fines or penalties for crossing the laws:
An operator of a motor vehicle who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars; provided, however, that said twenty-five dollar fine shall not apply to an operator of a motor vehicle licensed as a taxi cab not equipped with a child passenger restraint device.
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Massachusetts? (Over eight years)
The government of Massachusetts has not formed any particular law for when they can let the child sit in the front seat. However, they have suggested that all children are better kept in the back seat for safety; they can move to the front seat after attaining at least 13.
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Massachusetts?
There is no clear law that states that smoking in a car with a child is an illegal activity in Massachusetts. However, the government doesn’t encourage smoking when a child is around.
Safety of a Child Passenger
Due to improper seat installation, unfortunate situations often occur, sometimes even leading to a child’s death. You have to ensure that the seat is perfectly installed. Some parents might neglect it and assume it is fine without any inspection.
But it’s highly recommended to check whether you install the car seat perfectly or not. Knowing where to place your baby’s car seat is crucial for better safety.
The government of Massachusetts suggests car seat inspection sites for checking. These organizations have technicians who can check your car seat installation and tell you whether you placed it correctly or not.
The services are also free of charge and will let you know many crucial things about car seats. You can easily find the location nearby to find them.
The government also suggests giving proper care and attention to the selection of car seats. You must choose the seat according to your child’s age, height, and weight constraints.
You need to understand the manufacturing guidelines and the instructions provided there. Massachusetts government explains to know better seat selection and installation for better safety.
FAQ
When can my child ride without a booster seat in Massachusetts?
As per government regulations, when a child crosses 4 ‘9’’ and over 80 pounds, as well as eight years old, they can ride without a booster seat.
Are car seats required in taxis in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts laws apply to every privately owned vehicle. Taxis do not have any exemption to any of these rules. So, car seats are required in taxis in Massachusetts.
Conclusion
I hope you now understand the laws available in Massachusetts. Next time, while traveling on the roads of Massachusetts, remember these rules and keep following them to avoid heavy penalties.
The information about the rules is provided based on our internal research. For complete details and recent updates, please refer to the original site. We have also provided you with related queries and answers.
Remember the penalties and keep your child safe by following the Massachusetts car seat laws.
More Resources on Car Seat Laws
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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.
