Do you live in the state of Virginia?  If so, do you know your state’s car seat laws?  Car seat laws are very important to know for a number of reasons, they can help you avoid getting a traffic violation, fines to pay, and they can also help you keep your child safe when they’re riding in the car.

Keep in mind that car seat laws vary from state to state, therefore it’s important to know the car seat laws for the actual state you live in.  If you don’t know the laws for Virginia already, make yourself aware of them now.

Virginia Car Seat Laws:

• Your child must remain in some sort of a car seat until they meet the age of 7 years.  The only exception is if they have a physical exemption.
• They must also wear an adult safety belt through the ages of 8-17.
• If your child is in a rear-facing car seat, they must remain in the back seat of the vehicle.  The only exception for riding in the front seat would be if the airbags were deactivated.
• If you fail to follow these laws, you may put your child in a dangerous situation, as well as face a fine of $50 for the first offense.

NOTES:

• You should always try to keep your baby rear-facing for as long as possible.  Typically it’s best if they remain rear-facing until they meet at least one year of age AND 20 lbs.
• Never buy a car seat that was previously owned and used.  You don’t know if it’s been in an accident, if it’s been recalled, or if it’s expired.
• You should always have your children wear their safety belt regardless of their age.  This will ensure additional safety.

This is just a brief summary for Virginia’s car seat laws.  Keep in mind they may change over time, therefore it is important that you keep up with this important information.