Georgia passed laws about child car safety over 10 years ago. These laws say kids under 8 must sit in the back seat, following the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208. The law also suggests, but doesn’t require, that kids 12 and under sit in the back. This can be confusing for parents.
It’s not just about age though. There are also rules about height and weight. Kids under 40 pounds and shorter than 57 inches must be in a car seat or booster in the back seat.
Kids over 40 pounds:
– Can sit in the front if there’s no back seat.
– Still need to be in a car or booster seat for their age and height.
– If there’s no back seat or it’s full, they can sit in the front.
– All kids under 8 and shorter than 57 inches need to be in a car seat or booster.
Kids over 57 inches:
– If they’re under 40 pounds, they must sit in the back in a proper seat or booster.
– Kids under 8 must sit in the back no matter their height or weight.
There are different rules for motorcycles and pickup trucks:
– Motorcycle passengers, including kids, must wear a helmet.
– Kids on motorcycles should be big enough to sit securely.
– In pickup trucks, kids under 8 can sit in the front if there’s no backseat or it’s full, as long as they weigh at least 40 pounds.
– Kids can’t ride in the bed of a truck.
