Rhode Island Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines

Rhode Island requires children under 2 years old or under 30 pounds to ride rear-facing, then forward-facing until they outgrow the harness, then in a booster seat until age 8 or until they reach 80 pounds or 4 feet 9 inches tall, when a standard seat belt may be used.

Rear-facing Car Seat Laws in Rhode Island

Rhode Island car seat law requires infants and toddlers under the age of 2 years or those weighing less than 30 pounds to be restrained in a rear-facing seat. According to most experts, the rear-facing position is the safest for young children. This is because the back of the car seat protects the child's fragile and developing body parts by absorbing the impact forces. Also, in case of a frontal collision, the seat holds the child in place to prevent him or her from colliding with the interior surfaces of the car. Typically, newborns usually start by riding on infant-only seats which have lower weight and height limits. Infants normally outgrow them pretty fast and then switch to convertible seats which are much bigger and have higher weight limits (up to 40 pounds). Children can remain in convertibles until age 4, however this depends on their growth rate. Rear-facing seats should be secured in the back seat according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Forward-Facing Car Seat Laws in Rhode Island

The law requires all children 2 years old or older who have exceeded the rear-facing seat's weight and height limits to ride on forward-facing seats equipped with a harness until they exceed the maximum limits set by the manufacturer. Convertible seats can be used as a forward-facing seat, so parents who were using them as rear-facing seats can turn their seats to face forward while others can opt for forward-facing only seats. A seat with a 5-point harness is highly recommended. The straps should be snugly secured across the stronger parts of the child's body (shoulders and neck). If this is done right, the straps will help in distributing the crash forces away from the delicate body parts such as the neck and spine in the event of an accident. Most car seats of this type can accommodate weights of up to 65 pounds. This means children can safely remain forward-facing until age 7. The seat should also be installed in the back seat according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Booster Seat Regulations in Rhode Island

Rhode Island requires children younger than 8 years to be restrained in the appropriate child restraint device placed in the rear seating position unless they are 4'9" tall or weigh 80 pounds. This means children who have outgrown forward-facing seats are allowed to ride on booster seats until they are 8 years old or until they weigh 80 pounds or are 4'9". Booster seats help in raising the child so that normal safety belts can fit properly over the body. The shoulder straps should lie snug across the chest, and the lap belt should lie flat across the upper thighs. Use a high-back booster seat if your car does not have a headrest to support the child's neck and head. Children should remain in booster seats until they can fit in seat belts. While the law provides weight and height guidelines to be followed, experts insist the height is the most important factor since safety belts are designed to fit anyone who is 4'9" tall or taller. Children shorter than this height may not fit in seat belts and can be exposed to potential neck and stomach injuries if the straps are misplaced. Also, a seat belt ready child should be able to sit all the way back against the seat without slouching, and the knees should bend at the edge of the seat with feet touching the floor.

Requirements for children to use the front seat in Rhode Island

The law requires all children younger than 8 years old to ride in a rear seating position, regardless of their height or weight. Reaching 80 pounds or 4'9" tall only changes which restraint a child under 8 must use (they graduate from a booster seat to a standard lap-shoulder belt); it does not by itself make them eligible for the front seat. A child younger than 8 may ride in the front seat only if the vehicle has no rear seat, or if all other rear seating positions are already occupied by other children. Once a child turns 8, they may sit in the front seat restrained by a seat belt. However, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) says children should remain in the back seat until age 13. This is because the passenger-side airbags in the front seats can injure children when they inflate since they are designed for adults. Also, the back seat is generally safer because it is farther away from the point of impact in case of a frontal collision.

Law on Persons 8 years or older in Rhode Island

The law requires anyone 8 years or older riding in a car to be restrained with a safety belt.

Law on leaving a child in a car in Rhode Island

You can be convicted if you leave a child younger than 12 years unsupervised inside a car for a period of time that presents significant risks to his or her safety or health. It is not recommended to leave a child alone in a vehicle for any length of time.

Law on Smoking in a car with a child in Rhode Island

There are no laws regarding smoking in a car with child passengers. We do not recommend that you smoke in your vehicle with children present.

Law on Car Seat Replacement in Rhode Island

There is no law regarding the replacement of car seats. Car seats usually expire after a period of time (6 years), so make sure to check your seat's expiry date. Also, according to federal standards, car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe accident.

Car Seat Law Exemptions in Rhode Island

A child younger than 8 years who is properly restrained in the front seat can be exempted if the car has no rear seats, or if all other sitting positions are occupied by other children. Vehicles manufactured before July 1, 1966, are exempt from the general seat belt requirement for occupants 8 and older and for drivers, but that exemption does not extend to the child-restraint-system requirement for children younger than 8. A driver or passenger age 8 or older who is unable to wear a safety belt for physical or medical reasons can be exempted from the seat belt requirement with a written document from a physician, valid for no more than 12 months, explaining why they cannot comply. This physician's-note exemption does not excuse a child younger than 8 from the state's child-restraint-system requirement.

More Rhode Island Laws

• Rhode Island Car Accident Laws