Alaska
Alaska Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 9, 2026. · 1 primary source cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Alaska law (AS 28.05.095) requires children under 4 years old to ride in a child safety device that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards, and children ages 4 through 15 to ride in a DOT-approved child safety device sized for their age and size, or a seat belt. The statute does not set its own weight or height thresholds; those come from the manufacturer's instructions for the seat being used.
A Summary of Child Car Seat Laws in Alaska
What are the Height and Weight Requirements for Car Seats in Alaska?
Alaska's statute sets its restraint requirement by age, not weight or height: children **UNDER **4 years old must ride in a child safety device that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards, and children ages 4 through 15 must use a DOT-approved device sized for their age and size, or a seat belt.
The statute leaves the rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster stages to the seat manufacturer's own weight and height limits; check your seat's manual for its exact limits.
Alaska law does not set a specific weight, height, or age threshold for front-seat placement. Once a child has outgrown the booster-seat requirements, the driver may use judgment about seating position, though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in the back seat until at least age 13.
What are the Rear-facing Car Seat Laws in Alaska?
Alaska's statute (AS 28.05.095) does not set a separate rear-facing rule by weight; it requires children under 4 years old to ride in a DOT-approved child safety device, without specifying seat orientation in the statutory text. In practice, infants and young toddlers ride rear-facing because that is how infant and convertible seats are designed and certified to be used at that age, per the seat manufacturer's instructions. The seat used should meet or exceed the standards set by the United States Department of Transportation. These seats are considered safe because they are designed with features to help protect an infant's neck and spinal cord from injury in case of an accident. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents keep children rear-facing until at least 2 years old, or until the child reaches the seat's maximum rear-facing height or weight limit.
What are the Forward Facing Car Seat Laws in Alaska?
Alaska's statute does not set a separate forward-facing rule by age or weight; it simply requires a DOT-approved child safety device for children under 4, and a DOT-approved device sized for the child's age and size, or a seat belt, for ages 4 through 15. Once a child outgrows their seat's rear-facing limits, they should move to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness and use it until they exceed the manufacturer's height and weight limits. The device used should adhere to United States Department of Transportation standards.
What are the Booster Seat Laws in Alaska?
Alaska's statute does not set its own age, weight, or height threshold for booster seats. For children ages 4 through 15, the law requires a DOT-approved child safety device sized for the child's age and size, or a seat belt, so a child may legally move to a booster seat, or to a regular seat belt if it fits properly, once they turn 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in a booster seat until a regular seat belt fits correctly, typically when the child is between about 8 and 12 years old or around 4 feet 9 inches tall. The booster seat should be secured by a proper seat belt system or any other system (such as a latch system) that meets United States Department of Transportation standards. The installed booster seat should help the child to firmly position the regular seat belt over the stronger parts of the body (chest, shoulders and lap).
What are the Requirements for Children to Use the Front Seat in Alaska?
Alaska's statute does not set a specific weight or height threshold for moving out of a booster seat; a child ages 4 through 15 may legally use a regular seat belt once it fits properly, or continue using a DOT-approved child safety device sized for their age and size. A seat belt fits correctly when the shoulder belt crosses the chest and the lap belt sits low across the upper thighs, rather than the stomach or neck, which for most children happens around ages 8 to 12 or about 4 feet 9 inches tall. The state of Alaska does not state a specific age for sitting in the front seat, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in the back seat until at least age 13.
Is it Illegal to Leave a Child Inside a Vehicle in Alaska?
Alaska has no statute specifically about leaving a child alone in a vehicle. However, Alaska's general child endangerment law, AS 11.51.100, makes it a class C felony to intentionally desert a child under 10 years old under circumstances that create a substantial risk of physical injury, which could include leaving a child in a vehicle in dangerous heat or cold. It is not recommended to leave a child unattended in a vehicle under any circumstances.
Are Car Seats Required in Taxis in Alaska?
Alaska's law applies regardless of vehicle type: children under 4 years old need a DOT-approved child safety device, and children ages 4 through 15 need a DOT-approved device sized for their age and size, or a seat belt. The statute does not carve out an exemption for taxis. If you are travelling in a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle in Alaska you will need to ensure that you have the appropriate child safety restraint.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Height and Weight Requirements for Car Seats in Alaska?
Alaska's statute (AS 28.05.095) sets no weight or height thresholds. The legal requirement is by age: children under 4 must ride in a federally approved child safety device, and children ages 4 through 15 must use a federally approved device sized for their age and size, or a seat belt. Weight-based steps such as rear-facing for infants and boosters for children shorter than 4 feet 9 inches come from manufacturer instructions and NHTSA guidance, not the statute.
What are the Rear-facing Car Seat Laws in Alaska?
Alaska's statute (AS 28.05.095) does not set a separate rear-facing rule by weight; it requires children under 4 years old to ride in a DOT-approved child safety device, without specifying seat orientation in the statutory text. In practice, infants and young toddlers ride rear-facing because that is how infant and convertible seats are designed and certified to be used at that age. The seat used should meet or exceed the standards set by the United States Department of Transportation. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children rear-facing until at least 2 years old, or until the child reaches the seat's maximum rear-facing height or weight limit.
What are the Forward Facing Car Seat Laws in Alaska?
Alaska's statute does not set a separate forward-facing rule by age or weight; it simply requires a DOT-approved child safety device for children under 4, and a DOT-approved device sized for the child's age and size, or a seat belt, for ages 4 through 15. Once a child outgrows their seat's rear-facing limits, they should move to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness and use it until they exceed the manufacturer's height and weight limits. The device used should adhere to United States Department of Transportation standards.
What are the Booster Seat Laws in Alaska?
Alaska's statute does not set its own age, weight, or height threshold for booster seats. For children ages 4 through 15, the law requires a DOT-approved child safety device sized for the child's age and size, or a seat belt, so a child may legally move to a booster seat, or to a regular seat belt if it fits properly, once they turn 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in a booster seat until a regular seat belt fits correctly, typically around ages 8 to 12 or about 4 feet 9 inches tall. The booster seat should be secured by a proper seat belt system or any other system (such as a latch system) that meets United States Department of Transportation standards.
What are the Requirements for Children to Use the Front Seat in Alaska?
Alaska's statute does not set a specific weight or height threshold for moving out of a booster seat; a child ages 4 through 15 may legally use a regular seat belt once it fits properly, or continue using a DOT-approved child safety device sized for their age and size. A seat belt fits correctly when the shoulder belt crosses the chest and the lap belt sits low across the upper thighs, which for most children happens around ages 8 to 12 or about 4 feet 9 inches tall. The state of Alaska does not state a specific age for sitting in the front seat, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in the back seat until at least age 13.
Is it Illegal to Leave a Child Inside a Vehicle in Alaska?
Alaska has no statute specifically about leaving a child alone in a vehicle. However, Alaska's general child endangerment law, AS 11.51.100, makes it a class C felony to intentionally desert a child under 10 years old under circumstances that create a substantial risk of physical injury, which could include leaving a child in a vehicle in dangerous heat or cold. It is not recommended to leave a child unattended in a vehicle under any circumstances.
Are Car Seats Required in Taxis in Alaska?
Alaska's law applies regardless of vehicle type: children under 4 years old need a DOT-approved child safety device, and children ages 4 through 15 need a DOT-approved device sized for their age and size, or a seat belt. The statute does not carve out an exemption for taxis. If you are travelling in a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle in Alaska you will need to ensure that you have the appropriate child safety restraint.
Updates
Rebuilt Alaska's car-seat figures around the state's actual statute, which sets a simple age-based rule (a DOT-approved device for children under 4, and a DOT-approved device or seat belt for ages 4 through 15) rather than the specific weight and height bands the page previously stated as law; those numbers are now presented as AAP/manufacturer guidance, not statutory requirements. Also corrected the claim that leaving a child in a vehicle is never illegal in Alaska (a general child-endangerment law can apply) and narrowed the meta description's penalty promise, since no specific fine figure for this statute could be sourced.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Fixed two disjunctive-vs-conjunctive errors in AS 28.05.095's booster and driver's-discretion size thresholds (both require BOTH the height and weight condition, not either), and removed a fabricated 'front seat allowed at 65 lbs/age 4' claim -- the statute sets no seating-position rule, so this is now framed as AAP safety guidance rather than law.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Alaska Statutes, Title 28. Motor Vehicles, Chapter 05. Administration
§ 28.05.095Use of seat belts and child safety devices requiredIn force
(a) Except as provided in (c) of this section, a person (1) 16 years of age or older may not occupy a motor vehicle while being driven on a highway unless restrained by a safety belt; and (2) may not drive a motor vehicle on a highway unless restrained by a safety belt. (b) Except as provided in (c) of this section, a driver may not transport a child under the age of 16 in a motor vehicle unless the driver has provided the required safety device and properly secured each child as described in this subsection.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 4 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2010
Leading cases:
- Hutchins v. Schwartz (Alaska Supreme Court 1986, 724 P.2d 1194)“…nly to Mr. Hutchins as "Hutchins”. 2 . AS 28.05.095(a) provides that a child under the age…”
- Erickson v. State (Court of Appeals of Alaska 2006, 141 P.3d 356)“…Former AS 11.56.800(a)(l)(B)(i). 4 . AS 28.05.095(a)(2) and AS 28.05.099(a).…”
- Chase v. State (Court of Appeals of Alaska 2010, 243 P.3d 1014)“…t is AFFIRMED. 1 . AS 28.15.291(a) and AS 28.05.095(a), respectively.…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
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