Louisiana Child Car Seat Laws – All You Need to Know

Both state and federal law set requirements that ensure safety standards for booster seats and car seats are met. Understanding Louisiana child car seat laws is crucial not only to follow these laws but also to protect children and limit the risk of injury or death in a crash.

What Is the Child Passenger Restraint System in Louisiana?

Louisiana requires that children under the age of 18 be transported in moving vehicles with the proper safety systems to protect, anchor, and restrain them. These requirements apply to nearly every driver. There are some exceptions, such as when the vehicle is an ambulance or being used as an ambulance, in emergency situations, or when the medical requirements of a child prevent them from being restrained by the appropriate system.

The use of a car seat reduces the risk of injury to children by 71.0 to 82.0% when compared to a seat belt. Booster seats reduce the risk of injury to children by 65.5% to 74.9%. Seat belts are also shown to reduce the risk of injury and death for children.

Safety System

The safety system used for a child in a vehicle depends on their age, weight, and height. The system follows these rules:

1. Children younger than two should be in a federally compliant rear-facing child restraint system. This should be used until they no longer meet the height and weight requirements of the system.
2. Children who are at least two years old and no longer fit the rear-facing car seat should be in a front-facing child restraint system equipped with an internal harness. This should be used until they outgrow the weight or height requirements of the car seat.
3. Children who are at least age four and have outgrown the front-facing car seat should have a belt-positioning child booster seat, with the vehicle’s lap-shoulder seat belt properly secured in place.
4. Children who are at least age nine or who have outgrown the booster seat’s weight and height limits should be restrained by the vehicle’s adult seat belt. The child must also pass the five-step test.
5. Children who are younger than 13 should ride in the rear seat of the vehicle when there is one, in the proper restraint system, booster seat, or safety belt.

When a child fits the description of multiple categories, the proper restraint system is the one that is most protective. Car seats and booster seats should always be used based on the manufacturer’s instructions, including the manufacturer’s stated height and weight limits.

What Is the Five-Step Test in Louisiana?

The first-step test determines if a seat belt fits a child correctly enough to be restrained by the seat belt without the use of a booster seat. The steps in the test include:

1. The child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat
2. The child’s knees bend over the vehicle seat edge
3. The belt of the seat belt fits across the child’s thighs and hips and does not cross the child’s abdomen
4. The shoulder strap of the belt crosses the middle of the child’s chest and does not cross the child’s neck
5. The belt and the shoulder strap fit snugly

If a child fits all of these requirements and has outgrown their booster seat or is at least nine years old, then they should be restrained by the seat belt without a booster seat.

How Do You Install a Car Seat or Booster Seat Correctly?

There are locations all throughout the state that are Fitting Stations and Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs). These locations can help you determine the right child restraint system and install it properly. There are ten locations in Calcasieu Parish alone, including:

1. Christus-Ochsner Lake Area Hospital, located at 4200 Nelson Road in Lake Charles, with CPST Ashton Key
2. Lake Charles Fire Department, at Stations Four, Five, Six, or Seven, with CPST Charles Arsement
3. Southwest Louisiana Regional Safety Coalition, located at 412 7th Street in Lake Charles, with CPST Amber Ashworth
4. Louisiana State Police, Troop D, located at 805 Main Street in Lake Charles, with CPST Derek Senegal
5. Lake Charles Police Department, located at 830 Enterprise Boulevard, with CPST Beth Stevens

Most Fitting Stations and CPSTs require you to make an appointment. There are also resources about car seats, booster seats, and restraint systems, as well as the installation of these systems, including those on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

FAQs

Does a Seven-Year-Old Need a Booster Seat in Louisiana?

A seven-year-old likely needs a booster seat in Louisiana and may need a safer harness, depending on their size and weight. When a child is at least four years old and has outgrown the forward-facing car seat based on the manufacturer’s limits, they must be restrained by a booster seat. If the child has not yet outgrown the limits set by the car seat, then they should remain in the safer category.

What Is the Height and Weight for a Booster Seat?

The height and weight limits for a booster seat are set by the specific manufacturer, so they will differ from seat to seat. In Louisiana, a child must either be at least nine years old or have outgrown the height and weight limits of the booster seat and be able to pass the five-step test in order to no longer use a booster seat while restrained by the seat belt.

At What Age Can You Stop Using a Car Seat for a Child?

The age at which you can stop using a car seat for a child depends on the laws where you live, the child’s age and height, and other factors. In Louisiana, children must be in a rear-facing car seat if they are younger than two until they reach their height and weight limits. A child must be in a front-facing car seat until they are at least four years old and have grown past the height and weight limits.

What Is the New Booster Seat Law in Louisiana?

As of 2019, there are stricter laws about how younger children under the age of two are restrained when in a motor vehicle. The laws also change how children of different ages or weights should be restrained or where in the car they should sit until the age of 13. These restrictions improve safety for children in vehicles if the safety systems are correctly installed.

Contact the Cox Law Firm After a Crash

If you or your child were in a vehicle accident, it is essential to protect your rights. Contact the Cox Law Firm today.