{"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
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
\n\t\t\t\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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRear-Facing\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\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
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tForward-Facing\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\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
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBooster\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\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFront 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\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
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\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
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington Rear-Facing Car Seat Laws<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington Forward Facing Car Seat Laws <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccording 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tChild Booster Seat Laws in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSeat Belt Laws for Child in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPenalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tViolating 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington Car Seat Laws Apply for<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhen 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
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTaxi Car Seat Law in Washington<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTaxis 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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAge, Weight, Height Requirements in Washington Law<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAge 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>
- Rear-facing (stage 1): under 2 years of age<\/li>
- Forward-facing (stage 2): below the forward-facing weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer<\/li>
- Booster (stage 3): before fitting properly in the vehicle seat belt, generally under 57 inches and 8 years of age<\/li>
- Seat belt (stage 4): at least 4 feet 9 inches, around 8 to 12 years old<\/li><\/ul>
Children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the back seat.<\/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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBest Car Seats to Work with Washington Laws<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBased on the Washington child car seat laws, here are the best car seats that will ride your boys or girls safely without breaking the rules.<\/p>
To help parents quickly find the best option based on your child’s current age, this list is made by age.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNewborn - 2 Years Old\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\tRear-facing car seats\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
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t