This article is a Comprehensive Guide to Delaware Car Seat Laws. When it comes to car seat safety, Delaware is a state that takes its laws seriously. The Office of Highway Safety is responsible for overseeing the State’s car seat laws and making guidance on best practices for parents and their children.
Delaware car seat laws are in place to help keep children safe while riding in a vehicle. All 50 states have child safety seat laws, and Delaware is no different.
Everything you need to understand about Delaware car seat laws, including information on the different types of car seats, when to use them, and how to install them properly.
Table of Contents
Delaware Car Seat Laws Requirements
Delaware car seat law mandates that all children under the age of 8 or weighing less than 65 pounds must be properly restrained in a federally approved child safety seat.
After age 8 or 65 pounds, children must be adequately secured with a seatbelt in the back seat of a vehicle. The State’s standard seat belt law applies to all 16 years of age and older passengers. Therefore, everyone, ages infant to adult, is expected to be adequately restrained when riding in a vehicle.
Delaware parents can choose three main car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing with a harness, and booster seats.
The type of car seat needed depends on the child’s age and weight:
- Children under 2 years old or who weigh less than 30 pounds must be restrained in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children 2 years old or older who weigh more than 30 pounds but are less than 8 and 4’9″ or shorter must be restrained in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
- Children 8 years old or older, OR 4’9″ or taller, may be restrained in a booster seat.
Delaware car seat laws also requires that all car seats and booster seats be properly installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Types of Restraints for Children
To keep your child in the proper restraint seat, you must first know the various types of seats and their guidelines. This is well known as the four stages of seat safety.
- Rear-Facing
- Forward-Facing
- Booster Seat
- Lap Shoulder Belt
Delaware Rear-Facing Car Seat Laws
Rear-Facing Car Seats can be convertible seats or infant seats. In Delaware, parents must use a rear-facing car seat for their infant or toddler. This law applies to all children from birth to under two years.
Parents should continue using a rear-facing car seat until their child exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended height and rear-facing weight limits. In addition, the seat must be convertible, size-appropriate, and comes with a harness to minimize stress on the spinal cord and neck.
Delaware Forward-Facing Car Seat Laws
Your child can utilize a forward-facing car seat from ages 2 to 4 and weighs between 20 and 40 pounds. However, it is recommended that you transition seat types based on the car seat’s maximum height and weight limits, not your child’s age.
The upper weight limit of the forward-facing car seat can be 60 to 90lbs. Their maximum height is one inch below the top of the seat.
Delaware Booster Seat Laws
Booster seats are belt positioners. There are high back boosters and backless boosters. They help elevate your child so that the vehicle seat belt properly crosses their body, chest, and the centre of their shoulder.
The Delaware Booster Seat Law requires children to ride on a booster seat until they reach 65 pounds or age 8-12, whichever comes first. The shoulder strap should lie flat over the child’s shoulder, and the lap belt should cross the hips while lying low.
The booster seat must be fixed in the back seat and meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. A child can ride on the booster seat until they have a height of 4’9″ or more or when the car seat manufacturer’s height and weight guidelines.
Seat Belts in Delaware
Seat belts are mandatory for all drivers and passengers in Delaware. A child between 8 and 15 years or those weighing more than 65 pounds and is taller than 4′ 9″ must be appropriately secured with a seatbelt in all seating positions. Not wearing a seat belt is a primary offence in Delaware.
What is the age to ride in Front Seat in Delaware?
According to Delaware car seat laws, children must be 12 years or older to ride in the front seat of a car. Additionally, they must be taller than 65 inches. This law applies to vehicles that are equipped with a passenger-side airbag.
If the airbag has been deliberately rendered inoperable, the law does not apply. Finally, this law does not apply to vehicles that have a passenger-side airbag specifically designed or modified by the vehicle’s manufacturer for use by children and small adults.
Leaving Child Unattended in a Car Laws in Delaware
Delaware does not have a law explicitly addressing leaving a child unattended in a car. However, it is always advisable to go with younger children with older ones or take them with you to avoid potential risks. Leaving a child alone in a car can be dangerous, and it is essential to use caution when doing so.
Is Smoking Allowed in A Car Delaware
No, smoking is not allowed in a car in Delaware as long as the vehicle is being used for private transportation.
However, smoking is not allowed in vehicles used to transport children under the control of a daycare, school, or other organization. This is to protect the children from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
Taxi Car Seat Laws in Delaware
Taxi car seat laws vary from State to State. In Delaware, taxis are not required to follow the same car seat laws as other vehicles. This means that Uber’s also exempt from these requirements. It is essential to know the law in your state to make sure your child is properly secured when riding in a taxi.
Fines For the Violations
The fine for not following the Delaware car seat laws is $25. If you are caught breaking the car seat laws in Delaware, you can be fined up to $500.
The fine amount will rely on the number of violations and the number of children involved. Additionally, you may be required to pay court costs, which could total up to $85.
If you have more than one child in the car, the charges might be separate, leading to an even heftier fine. The goal of these laws is to ensure the safety of all children in motor vehicles. By violating these laws, you are putting your child at significant risk.
Exemptions
There are a few exemptions to the Delaware Car Seat Laws.
Taxis, limousines, or motorbuses are not ordered to place a child in a booster seat, seatbelt, or safety seat.
Children under 12 years old or below 65 inches in height are allowed to occupy the front passenger seat:
- If there is a specifically designed airbag on the passenger side
- If the vehicle doesn’t come with a rear passenger seat
- If other children occupy all the rear passenger seats
Final Words
We have come to an end to this article on Delaware car seat laws. I hope you have found the answers you were looking for and that the language used here was easy to understand.
The most important takeaways are that all children under 8 years old must be properly secured in a booster seat or car seat and that front-facing car seats are required for children under 2 years old.
Thank you for reading! And maybe you can help me out by sharing this post so other parents can learn about Delaware’s car seat laws.