According to the Colorado State Law, all children under eight years old should be secured in an appropriate child restraint system that meets the federal motor vehicle standards.
What is the Car Seat Law in Colorado?
Colorado Legislature Law Section 42-4-236. (2) (a) (I) reads: "Every child who is under eight years of age and who is being transported in this state in a motor vehicle or in a vehicle operated by a child care center, shall be properly restrained in a child restraint system, according to the manufacturer's instructions. "
Colorado State Regulations
Rear-Facing
Colorado Rear-facing Car Seat Laws
Forward-Facing
Colorado Forward facing Car Seat Rules
Booster
Colorado Booster Seat Laws
Front Seat Laws
When can child sit in front seat Colorado
Car Seats List
Best car seat to meet Colorado laws
US Car Seat Laws
Seat Laws across the United States
Colorado Car Seat Laws Rear-Facing
Colorado law regulations in Section 42-4-236. (2) (a) (II) requires children below 12 months old and weighing less than 20 pounds to ride in rear-facing car seats in the rear seat of the vehicle.
The Colorado Department of Transportation interpreting the law into a more detailed explanation:
- As long as your child is under 1 year of age, no matter his or her weight or height, the child should travel in a rear-facing car seat.
- If your child is under 20 pounds in weight, no matter his or her age or height, he or she should travel in a rear-facing car seat.
These two rules make it clear for parents to know the rear-facing age and weight requirements.
Safety tips:
It’s better to keep a child in the rear-facing car seats as long as possible unless they outgrow the maximum weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturers.
Colorado Forward Facing Car Seat Laws
According to Colorado law Section 42-4-236. (2) (a) (III), children who are at least 1 year of age but less than 4 years old and weigh 20 pounds or more but less than 40 pounds must ride in rear-facing or forward-facing car seats, whichever best fits the child’s weight and height.
Safety tips:
NOT rush into a forward-facing car seat too soon. You can wait until your child reaches the highest height or weight limit of the rear-facing car seat.
It’s best to follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions to choose an appropriate child safety seat for properly restraining.
What is The Law for Booster Seats in Colorado?
Interpreting the Colorado law regulations in section Section 42-4-236. (2) (a) (I) (II) and (III), children should use a booster seat until they are 8 years old.
The law does not say this statement but requires the child younger than 8 years of age to use an appropriate child restraint system in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The Colorado Department of Transportation explains in the age, weight, and height requirements table that a booster can be used if the child is at least 4 years old or weighing 40 pounds or more.
However, the best practice and the safest recommendation is to keep children in a booster seat until they have outgrown the booster seats.
What are the height and weight requirements for a booster seat in Colorado?
40-pound is the minimum weight requirement for a booster seat in Colorado. The other is the age requirement – 4 years of age, no height is mentioned in the rules on booster seats.
How much do you have to weigh to get out of a booster seat in Colorado?
No regulations are found in the law on the weight requirement to get out of a booster seat, only the child is at least 8 years of age can use a seat belt. Check the seat belt laws for Children in Colorado.
Seat Belt Laws for Child in Colorado
The rule in Colorado law section Section 42-4-236. (2) (b) says that children who are at least eight years of age but less than sixteen years of age should be restrained in a safety belt or booster seat, based on the child’s size and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep using the booster seat as long as possible until the child reaches the height or weight limit of their seats.
When can a child sit in the front seat in Colorado?
According to Colorado law, if your child is 1 year or older and weighs more than 20 pounds, it’s legal for them to stay in the front seat.
But it is not recommended. You should use an appropriate child restraint system until the age of 15.
Please refer to the manufacturer manual to choose the right system. After the age of 15, if the car’s seat belt feels secure, your children can sit in the front seat.
Penalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in Colorado
Failure to properly restrain a child typically results in a $65 fine, and a $16 surcharge.
However, the court will waive the fine if the offender shows proof of obtaining a proper car seat.
Colorado Car Seat Laws Apply for
The rules in Colorado Legislature Law 42-4-236 2 (c) make it clear about the application:
The parent should be responsible to ensure that the child is properly secured with a child restraint system or safety belt system if the parent is in the motor vehicle.
When the parent is not in the motor vehicle, the driver will take over the responsibility to secure a child properly in an appropriate restraint system.
Exemptions
Vehicles used to transport persons for medical emergencies are exempt from the child restraint requirement. Commercial vehicles used by childcare centers, a common carrier, contract carriers such as buses, are also exempt.
Even the luxury limousine service is exceptional from the child restraint system rules.
Taxi Car Seat Law in Colorado
Taxicab is not mentioned in the Colorado law on exceptional regulations. It’s supposed the taxis are required to follow the child passenger restraint system law.
However, according to section 42-4-236 2 (c), if the parent is in the taxi, the parents should hold responsibility for their children’s safety in the taxi.
Age, Weight, Height Requirements in Colorado Law
Rear-facing (stage 1): younger than 1-year-old and less than 20 pounds
Forward-facing (stage 2): between 1 to 7 years old, more than 20 pounds
Booster (stage 3): More than 40 pounds
Seat belt (stage 4): under 15 years old
As a good parent, you should always know that the laws are the minimum requirements. You need to follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle’s manual to install the car seat properly for the best protection.
Further Information
What you Need to Know – Four Car Seat Stages
Best Car Seats to Work with Colorado Laws
Based on the Colorado child car seat laws, here are the best car seats that will ride your boys or girls safely without breaking the rules.
To help parents quickly find the best option based on your child’s current age, this list is made by age.
Newborn - 2 Years Old
Rear-facing car seats
Birth - 4 Years Old
Convertible car seats for use
4-8 Years Old
Booster seats for use
With Special Functions
Car seats with Unique Features
Birth - 2 Years
30-lb rear-facing maximum weight
35-lb rear-facing maximum weight
Further Information
40-lb rear-facing maximum weight
50-lb rear-facing maximum weight
Further Information
Birth - 4 Years
65-lb forward-facing maximum weight
49-inch forward-facing maximum height
Further Information
Further Information
4-8 Years
100-lb booster maximum weight
120-lb booster maximum weight
57-in booster maximum height
63-in booster maximum height
Further Information
Further Information
- Best to Fit 3 Across – Diono Radian 3R
- Best with backless booster – Graco 4Ever DLX
The Diono Cambria 2 XL combines a highback and backless booster into one. It provides spacious room for growing big kids.
Diono Cambria 2 XL
- Weight Range: 40-120 lb.
- Height Limit: 63 in.
- Lifespan: 8 years
- Type: Booster
- Stage: 3rd
- Suitable for: 4-10 years old
The Good
- Up to 120 lb weight limit for big kids
- Up to 63-inch height limit
- XL size for roomy space
- Two modes for booster
- 8 years of lifespan
The Bad
- Can’t be installed on airplane
- Not fit 3 across
Car Seats with Unique Functions
For Travel
- Doona infant car seat stroller (with wheels)
- Evenfloy Shyft DualRide (wheeled car seat stroller combo)
Further Information
Slim Fit to Do 3 Across
- Diono Radian 3R and Radian series (17″)
- Evenflo Revolve360 Slim (16.75″)
Car seat with 5-point harness
- Britax One4Life (120 lbs/ 63”)
Further Information
Further Information
Sources
- Colorado Legislature on Child Restraint Requirements
- Colorado Department of Transportation on child passenger safety law