Illinois Booster Seat Laws

Belt-positioning booster seats help save children's lives. A booster seat can significantly reduce the risk for injury, but only if it 's used properly. Many parents believe their children are secured properly, but more than 80 percent of children placed in seats are not. In Illinois, it is required by law that children are properly restrained while they are riding in a motor vehicle.

  1. Child Passenger Protection Act

    • The Child Passenger Protection Act puts into place certain guidelines for booster seats. The booster seat must be appropriate for the child's weight and size. Booster seats are typically suited for children between 4 and 8 years old. The child should weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and shorter than 57 inches tall.

      A belt-positioning booster seat is used with a vehicle's lap and shoulder belts, and the belts should fit accordingly. The lap belt should rest across the lap and upper-thigh area, and the shoulder needs to be appropriate for the child's size and weight; it should be placed snugly across the chest and rest on the shoulder. The belts should never be placed under the arm, behind the back or across the stomach.

      Any person found in violation of not properly restraining a child is subject to a $50 fine for a first offense. The fine may be waived if there is proof that an appropriate seat has been obtained. If there are subsequent violations, the fine rises to $100 per offense.

    Booster Law

    • Since 2004, Illinois has enacted a "Booster Law." The law works as an update to the Child Passenger Protection Act. The Booster Law requires that all children up to their 8th birthday be secured in an appropriate child-restraint system. This includes infant seats, convertible or forward-facing car seats and booster seats, but they have to be considered safety seats in regard to the National Highway Safety Association's standards.

      The law also states that children weighing more than 40 pounds may be able to be sit in the back seat with only a lap belt if the back seat does not have a combination lap and shoulder belt system.

    Children With Disabilities

    • The Child Passenger Protection Act also stipulates that the parent or legal guardian is responsible for providing a child safety seat to anyone who transports the child. Children who have physical disabilities that prevent using standard safety seats may be exempt from the Child Passenger Protection Act. A parent or guardian would need to have the disability duly certified by the child's licensed physician.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Safe Headphones for Kids
      In this age of MP3 players, computer games and DVD players, children are using earphones more than ever. According to Dr. Sharon Kujawa of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School, exposure to high-decibel noise at a young ag
    • Booster Seat Safety Guidelines
      Just putting your child in a booster seat will not necessarily save her life. There are certain guidelines depending on the age and weight of your child. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80% of child restraints are use
    • Fun Ways to Pull Your Kids Away From the TV
      Too much television has a detrimental effect on all of us. It’s been linked to obesity, particularly in children. Media exposure has also been correlated with aggression in children and risky behavior. We know that all of that exposure to the images