{"id":1526,"date":"2023-11-11T03:23:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T03:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/?p=1526"},"modified":"2023-12-12T22:53:08","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T22:53:08","slug":"washington-car-seat-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/washington-car-seat-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Car Seat Laws (2024)- Rear- or Forward-facing, or Booster"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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According to the Washington State Law, all children under sixteen years of age should ride with a safety belt system in a passenger position.<\/p>

The revised law beginning on Jan. 1, 2020, for children under 16 years old who are being transported in a vehicle.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the car seat law in Washington?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tWashington Legislature in Section 46.61.687 (1) on child restraint system reads: \n\n\u201cWhenever a child who is less than sixteen years of age is being transported in a motor vehicle that is in operation and that is required by RCW 46.37.510 to be equipped with a safety belt system in a passenger seating position, or is being transported in a neighbourhood electric vehicle or medium-speed electric vehicle that is in operation, the driver of the vehicle shall keep the child properly restrained.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington State Regulations<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington Rear-facing Car Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington Forward facing Car Seat Rules\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington Booster Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen can child sit in front seat in Washington\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCar Seats List\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBest car seat to meet Washington laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUS Car Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSeat Laws across the United States\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Washington Rear-Facing Car Seat Laws<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Washington law in Section 46.61.687 (1) (a) says that infants and toddlers under the age of 2<\/strong> shall be restrained in a rear-facing car seat<\/a> until they reach the height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.<\/p>

The rules also make it clear that the child passenger can keep using the rear-facing car seat, even if they’re over 2 years of age<\/a> as long as they are within the height or weight limit as set by the manufacturer.<\/p>

The rear-facing seats must be federally approved and used in accordance with the car seat manufacturers.<\/p>

It’s best to place the child in the back of the vehicle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Washington Forward Facing Car Seat Laws <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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According to the rules in Section 46.61.687 (1) (a) and (b), after the child outgrows t the weight or height limit for their rear-facing car seats, they should be moved to a forward-facing car seat<\/a>.<\/p>

The law in section (b) also says that the forward-facing car seat should feature a harness for optimal protection.<\/p>

The regulation requires the forward-facing car seat to be used for a child who is under 4 years old<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>

You should keep using a forward-facing car seat for as long as possible, following the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and keeping them up to the highest weight or height.<\/p>

The forward-facing car seat must be manufactured meeting or exceeding the standards of the United States Department of Transportation.<\/p>

Most forward-facing car seats with a harness<\/a> allow for 65-pound maximum weight and 49-inch highest height. That typically happens around age 6-7.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Child Booster Seat Laws in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The rules in section RCW 46.61.687 (1) (c) (e) say that children who are under 4 feet 9 inches tall must ride in a child booster seat<\/a>, after they outgrow their forward-facing car seat.<\/p>

The booster seat should be used and placed for proper installation with\u00a0a federally approved safety seat belt system.<\/p>

When can a child stop using a booster seat in Washington state?<\/b><\/p>

When they are shorter than 4\u20199\u201d and under 8 years old, children are required to use booster seats<\/a>. They can stop using the seat when the seat belt of the car fits them securely.<\/p>

Does a 7-year-old need a car seat in WA?<\/b><\/p>

From the booster seat rules listed above, you’ll find that a 7-year-old still needs to be secured in a car seat in WA, unless the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches.<\/p>

That means if your child is less than 4 feet 9 inches in height, even he or she grows to 7 years of age<\/a>, they should stay in a car seat.<\/p>

For big kids growing faster than their peers, they may reach this 57-inch height limit sooner than they’re 7 years old. At this time, check if the vehicle seat belt fits properly or not before directly moving the child from a booster to a seat belt.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Seat Belt Laws for Child in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Washington laws on child in a seat belt is not listed as a clear statement.<\/p>

However, according to the rule in section RCW 46.61.687 (1) (c), a child can get out of a booster and start to wear a seat belt when the vehicle seat belt fits them properly.<\/p>

That typically happens when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 to 12 years of age.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Penalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Violating the Washington law that not using an appropriate child restraint device for a child will cause a fine of up to $124.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Washington Car Seat Laws Apply for<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The drive is responsible for the child’s safety in the car seat. They should make sure the child be secured in a proper child restraint system.<\/p>

Exceptions:<\/b>
The Washington laws do not apply to:
(a) For hire vehicles<\/p>

(b) vehicles designed to transport sixteen or less passengers, including the driver, operated by auto transportation companies, as defined in RCW 81.68.010<\/p>

(c) vehicles providing customer shuttle service between parking, convention, and hotel facilities, and airport terminals<\/p>

(d) school buses.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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When can a child sit in the front seat in Washington?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The regulation in section RCW 46.61.687 (1) (c) says that all children under 13 are required to sit in the back seat, if there are back seats in the vehicle.<\/p>

That means, your child can seat in the front seat on his or her thirteenth birthday, according to the Washington law.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Taxi Car Seat Law in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Taxis are exempt from child restraint laws in Washington law for the keyword “fire vehicle”.<\/p>

You can find this on the exceptional cases listed in the part of Washington laws application.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Age, Weight, Height Requirements in Washington Law<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Age and height are the leading requirements in Washington laws on different car seat stages<\/a>, weight is not a deciding factor. Check below conclusions for Washington laws on different car seat stages and ages<\/a>.<\/p>