{"id":8295,"date":"2024-11-20T16:52:48","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T23:52:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-personal-injury\/?p=8295"},"modified":"2024-11-20T16:52:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T23:52:48","slug":"arizona-child-booster-seat-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-personal-injury\/es\/blog\/arizona-child-booster-seat-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Child Booster Seat Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
Arizona car seat laws mandate that children are properly secured within motor vehicles to ensure their safety. The 2017 Crash Stats<\/a> from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the use of child restraints saved 325 children’s lives throughout the United States, four of which were due to the car seat regulations in Arizona.<\/p>\n Arizona booster seat laws are intended to protect children younger than 8 years old and shorter than 4\u20199\u201d. If someone violates the booster seat requirements in Arizona, they can face legal consequences like civil penalties. So, it is crucial for parents, caregivers and anyone responsible for transporting children to understand and adhere to these laws.<\/p>\n If a child is injured in a motor vehicle due to the driver neglecting to use a booster seat, the responsible party may be subject to litigation. After educating yourself on the essential aspects of Arizona car seat laws below, consult a qualified personal injury attorney for legal guidance tailored to your unique situation.<\/p>\n ARS 28-907<\/a> lists various requirements regarding child restraint systems within motor vehicles. According to this statute, drivers must secure children under 5 in a proper child restraint system when driving on Arizona highways<\/b>. Moreover, all vehicles made after 1971 that are designed for ten or fewer passengers and required to have a seat belt<\/a> must ensure that children aged 5, 6 or 7 and under 4’9″ tall are secured in a child restraint system.<\/p>\n All child restraint systems must meet the requirements of 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.213<\/a>. If these requirements are unmet or a child is not restrained at all, the driver can face civil penalties after a traffic stop from a law enforcement officer. To promote safety and legal compliance, Arizona hospitals must provide a copy of this statute\u2019s expectations to new parents. The hospitals also need to offer information about the availability of loaner or rental programs for child restraint systems within the community where the child is born.<\/p>\n There are a myriad of different child restraint systems<\/a> mentioned by this statute and defined by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Some examples of child restraint systems that Arizona recognizes in this statute are:<\/p>\n Infants are expected to use rear-facing child restraint systems until they exceed the top height or weight limit allowed by the system\u2019s manufacturer. Then, the child should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for the next few years until they have outgrown it. After that, the child is expected to use a booster seat while they are under 8 years old and shorter than 4\u20199\u201d<\/b>. The child can use a traditional seat belt after exceeding those height or age requirements. Still, all children should sit in the backseat through age 12.<\/p>\n Booster seats are designed to elevate a child, allowing the seat belt to fit correctly across their chest and lap. By making it easier for the seat belt to secure the child\u2019s sturdy torso, booster seats can drastically reduce the risk of injury during a crash.<\/p>\n Belt-positioning booster seats reduce injuries<\/a> in four or eight-year-old children by 58 to 70%. They can also lower mortality rates by 61%<\/b> for children within the same age range.<\/p>\n Selecting an appropriate booster seat is critical for your child\u2019s safety. Some factors that determine the suitability of a booster seat are:<\/p>\n It is always a good idea to talk to a qualified professional before purchasing a new car seat to get an expert’s confirmation of its compatibility and quality.<\/p>\n Booster seats must be installed and used correctly to take advantage of their safety benefits. Some tips for promoting safe and effective booster seat use are:<\/p>\n Observe how the vehicle\u2019s seat belt secures the child to confirm the booster seat fits properly. The lap belt should lie low across their upper thighs, not their stomach. Moreover, the shoulder belt should cross the middle of the child\u2019s chest and shoulder, away from the neck or face. Avoid driving with the child if you are uncertain about the safety of their booster seat<\/b>, and contact a certified child passenger safety technician<\/a> for assistance.<\/p>\n Suppose a law enforcement officer pulls you over for an apparent violation of Arizona booster seat laws. In that case, they will ask the driver the age and height of the children in the vehicle to assess if they should be in child restraint systems. If the information given to the offer shows that you have failed to meet Arizona\u2019s booster seat requirements, you may be subject to a civil penalty of $50<\/b>.<\/p>\n If the officer learns that a violation of ARS 28-907<\/a> has not been committed, they shall not detain the vehicle any further unless an additional violation is involved in the traffic stop. Regardless, stopping a vehicle for an apparent or actual violation of this statute is not probable cause for the search or seizure of the vehicle unless there is probable cause for another violation of Arizona law.<\/p>\n In some cases, the abovementioned civil penalty does not have to be imposed if the driver promptly equips the vehicle with a suitable child restraint system<\/b>. To show proof of this, the driver can mail a receipt to the appropriate court officer, displaying the purchase or acquisition of a child restraint system.<\/p>\n If the penalty is not waived, the funds, minus any surcharges, shall be deposited in the child restraint fund, along with money donated by the public, to make child restraint systems more accessible to low-income individuals. However, the child restraint fund cannot exceed $20,000 at any given time, meaning any excess money would be deposited into the highway user revenue fund established by ARS 28-6533<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to the civil penalties, non-compliance can affect the driver\u2019s liability in the event of an accident. If a child is injured due to absence or improper use of a booster seat, the court may treat it as negligence, potentially leading to reduced compensation or increased penalties if there are personal injury claims.<\/p>\n Avoid legal consequences and guarantee the safety of every child in your vehicle by ensuring they are appropriately restrained in accordance with their weight, height and age.<\/p>\n Arizona’s booster seat requirements are strict, even requiring parents to bring proper child restraint systems in taxis or rideshares. However, some special situations allow children to ride in vehicles without traditional restraints. Some examples of exceptions to typical booster seat requirements in Arizona are:<\/p>\n In addition to the exceptions above, drivers may be exempt from following Arizona car seat laws if they are transporting more than one child under eight years of age in a motor vehicle that does not provide enough room for the required number of child restraint systems. However, for someone to qualify for this exemption, at least one child must be properly restrained or seated, and the driver should have secured as many other children in child restraint systems as reasonably possible.<\/p>\n Sometimes, people get caught in unfortunate situations that cause them to ignore car seat regulations. Some commonly seen circumstances that can cause people to violate booster seat requirements in Arizona are:<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the scenarios above are not enough to avoid legal consequences<\/b>. Even more importantly, violating car seat regulations in Arizona can increase the risk of injury in an accident<\/a>.<\/p>\n Everyone can play a role in promoting child passenger safety. Parents, caregivers and the community should work to stay informed about evolving safety laws. Participating in local safety programs<\/b> to raise awareness can be important. For example, Arizona\u2019s Governor\u2019s Office of Highway Safety offers a Children Are Priceless Passengers<\/a> (CAPP) occupant protection program.<\/p>\n Rely on local resources like fire departments and safety stations\u2014some may offer complimentary car seat inspections and installations to help you ensure compliance with the latest safety standards.<\/p>\n Some areas have inspection stations that can guarantee proper seat installation and help you track recall notices for booster seats. However, routinely looking up your car seat model online can also help you catch important news. By staying proactive, you can help keep children safe on the road.<\/p>\n Complying with Arizona car seat laws and ensuring proper booster seat usage is the best way to avoid injuries and mitigate legal risks. The Arizona booster seat law demands that any child under eight years of age and shorter than 4’9″ are secured in a child restraint system. Violating ARS 28-907<\/a> can result in civil penalties of $50. Plus, if the child is unfortunately injured in a crash due to non-compliance with this statute, your legal consequences can be exacerbated.<\/p>\n If your child has been injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligence, especially when car seat regulations in Arizona are ignored, it\u2019s essential to seek legal guidance as soon as possible. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer<\/a> like the ones at JacksonWhite Law<\/b> to discuss your case and explore options for compensation.<\/p>\nAn Overview of ARS 28-907<\/h2>\n
Types of Child Restraint Systems<\/h3>\n
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The Role of Booster Seats in Preventing Injuries<\/h2>\n
Choosing Which Booster Seat to Purchase<\/h3>\n
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Correctly Using Booster Seats<\/h3>\n
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Legal Consequences of Non-Compliance<\/h2>\n
Waiving the Civil Penalty<\/h3>\n
Child Passenger Safety\u2019s Affect on Personal Injury Claims<\/h3>\n
Potential Exceptions<\/h2>\n
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Common Scenarios Leading to Booster Seat Violations<\/h2>\n
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Advocating for Child Safety<\/h2>\n
Resources for Parents<\/h3>\n
Get Experienced Legal Representation For Negligence Claims<\/h2>\n