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Rules for Carseats for Newborns in Virginia

According to the state of Virginia, newborns and children up to 8 years old, must be in a safety seat when in a vehicle. The back seat is the safest place for a newborn or young child.



Babies have heavy heads with fragile necks. If newborns are in the safety seat properly, it would reduce the chance of injury if an accident occurred.

  1. Newborns

    • Children under the age of 1 must have their safety seat in the back seat, facing the back seat. This way the whole baby's body is cradled safely by the safety seat.

      If the vehicle does not have a back seat, the restraint device can be placed in the front of the vehicle as long as there is no passenger or side airbag. The airbags can be deactivated.

      The safety seat can face forward after the baby is a year old and weighs at least 20 pounds.

    Children

    • In Virginia, child restraint devices are required for children up to 8 years old. The seats have to be properly used and approved by the Department of Transportation. There is no height or weight rule, the law is based solely on a child's age.

      If installed properly, the restraint seat should not move more than one inch from side to side.

    Enforcement

    • In the state of Virginia, it is the driver's responsibility to ensure all vehicle passengers are restrained or buckled. This includes parents, grandparents, babysitters or friends-anyone providing the transportation.

      An officer of the law can stop a vehicle if children (up to the age 16) are not properly restrained. The child restraint law is primary enforcement; officers do not need to witness another violation to stop a vehicle and issue a ticket.

    Penalties

    • There is a $50 fine for failure to have a child in a safety seat. The fine jumps to $500 for repeat offenders.

    Assistance Programs

    • The state of Virginia offers an assistance program for those who cannot afford a child restraint device.

      For information on the program, contact the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Injury and Violence Prevention at 1-800-732-8333.

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