Many children cannot wait for the day when they finally get the chance to sit in the front seat of a vehicle. While there are some guidelines that are fairly universal, the specific laws regarding children in the front seat vary from state to state.
Keep reading below to learn when your child can move to the front seat in Colorado.
Colorado Child Seat Laws
Colorado law requires that a child under 9 be in the back seat if one is available. This means that a child can legally sit in the front seat at 9 years of age, although they must still be secured in the proper safety restraint system.
Rules for child seats in Colorado are as follows:
- Children under 2: Must be in the backseat if one is available. Must also be restrained in a rear-facing car seat if they weigh less than 40 pounds. If the child is more than 40 pounds, they must be in either a rear-facing or front-facing car seat.
- Children ages 2 to 3: Must be in the back seat if one is available. Must be in a rear-facing car seat if they weigh less than 20 pounds. If the child weighs more than 20 pounds, they can be in either a rear-facing or front-facing seat.
- Children ages 4 to 8: Must be in the back seat if one is available. If they weigh less than 40 pounds, they must be in either a rear-facing or front-facing car seat. If the child is over 40 pounds, they must be in either a front-facing car seat or a booster seat.
- Children ages 9 to 17: Must be in a booster seat or seat belt. If in a seat belt, it should fit properly. The shoulder belt should sit across the chest and shoulder (not the face or neck), and the lap belt should sit across the upper thighs and not the stomach.
The law also states that children must meet the age, height, and weight requirements for the specific child seat being used. Recent changes to Colorado’s child seat laws now require that children be properly restrained in a booster seat or seat belt until their 18th birthday.
Although the law only requires children under 9 to be in the back seat, it is widely recommended that children remain there until age 13. This recommendation is based on years of research into child safety in car accidents that show improperly restrained children are much more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries or death in a crash.
Exceptions to Colorado’s Child Seat Laws
There are a few exceptions to Colorado’s car seat laws that allow a child to ride in certain vehicles without a car seat or to ride in the front seat before age 9.
Vehicles without a back seat are generally exempt from the age requirements of car seat laws. A common example is a single-cab pickup truck. If a child is restrained in the front seat of one of these vehicles, the passenger airbag must be turned off.
Additionally, children typically do not have to be restrained in a car seat in a:
- Bus
- Taxi
- Rideshare vehicle
- Shuttle van
- RV
Children may also be exempt from the car seat rules in the event of a medical emergency or certified medical condition. For example, imagine the child is staying with a grandparent who does not have a car seat in their vehicle. If the child has a medical emergency, the grandparent may legally transport the child without a car seat to seek medical treatment.
Penalties for Violating Colorado’s Car Seat Laws
Parents and caregivers can be ticketed if their child is not properly restrained. A police officer can pull over your vehicle if they see that your child is not in a proper car seat. This is considered a primary offense, and there is no need for the officer to witness another offense in order to pull over the vehicle.
Parents could also face additional liability for their negligence if a child is injured in a car accident while not properly restrained.
Contact the Boulder Personal Injury Lawyer at Ferrell Injury Law for a Free Consultation
The question of where your child should sit in a car is critical to their safety in the event of an accident. While some injuries may be unavoidable, it is important to do what you can to reduce the chance of your child becoming severely injured in a car wreck.
If you’ve been injured in Boulder, CO, call Ferrell Injury Law for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer or contact us online.
We proudly serve clients in Boulder and surrounding Colorado communities.
Ferrell Injury Law
2060 Broadway # 360, Boulder, CO 80302
(720) 687-2795
