Every state requires child car seats. However, these laws vary widely from state to state. Kentucky car seat laws, for example, are written broadly to give adult drivers some flexibility in deciding the type of car seat to use.
Overview of Kentucky Car Seat Laws
Kentucky car seat laws are incorporated into the state’s seat belt law. This law applies to all drivers, regardless of their relationship to the child. In other words, babysitters and caretakers must use car seats to transport children just as parents must.
Kentucky Car Seat Requirements by Age and Size
Kentucky’s law imposes the following two requirements:
Rear-Facing Requirements
Rear-facing seats position the child on their back facing up. The child’s head points toward the front of the vehicle, facing the child toward the rear window. These seats are used for infants and toddlers because these children have weak necks. They could suffer a severe or fatal car accident injury if they were seated upright.
Kentucky does not mandate when a driver must use a rear-facing car seat. Instead, the law simply states that any child under 40 inches in height must ride in a federally approved child car seat.
Forward Facing Requirements
Children too large to ride in rear-facing seats move up to forward-facing seats. These seats rest on the car’s built-in seats but provide a rigid frame more suited for the child’s body. It includes an integrated headrest to support the child’s head and neck. It also has a five-point harness to prevent ejections in motor vehicle accidents.
Again, the law does not mandate when a child must ride in a forward-facing seat. The child must simply ride in a combination of rear and forward-facing seats until they are at least 40 inches tall.
Booster Seat Requirements
Kentucky car seat laws require children to use boosters once they reach 40 inches tall. Booster seats lift the child to use the car’s seat belts. Kentucky requires children to use booster seats until they are eight years old or 57 inches tall.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not set a minimum age for sitting in the front seat. However, the state recommends that children ride in the back seat until at least age 12.
Penalties for Violating Car Seat Laws in Kentucky
The penalty for a car seat violation is a $30 fine. A driver can avoid the fine by proving that they acquired a car seat.
Exceptions or Special Cases in Kentucky
Motorcycles and farm trucks registered solely for agricultural use are exempt from the law.
Need Legal Help With a Car Seat Violation?
ConsumerShield helps people who have received car seat citations understand their legal options. Contact us for a free case evaluation and lawyer referral.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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A Kentucky car accident lawyer can pursue an injury claim even if your child was not in a car seat because the law specifically states that the failure to use a car seat is not contributory negligence.
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The state recommends that children ride in rear-facing seats until they are at least one year old and at least 20 pounds. However, this recommendation is not part of the statute.
