Rules for Children's Carseats in Wisconsin
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Using proper restraint drops the risk of mortality in a vehicular accident. Of the 5,598 children under the age of 14 who were killed in car accidents in 2008, 48 percent were unrestrained. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highly recommends that all children under the age of 12 ride only in the back seat. For children under 4 feet 9 inches tall, proper restraint should include a car seat or booster seat.
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Rear Facing Child Seats
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Wisconsin car seat laws, which went into effect July 1, 2006, require all children under age 8 or under 4 feet 9 inches tall to be in a child safety seat or a booster seat, depending on their size and age. Children under 1 year or under 20 lbs. should be in a rear facing child seat. The child seat should be in the back seat of the vehicle if the car has a rear seat.
Forward Facing Car Seat
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A child between the ages of 1 to 4 who is also between 20 to 40 lbs. should be in a car seat in the back seat of a car, but the seat should face forward.
Booster Seat
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Wisconsin requires a booster seat for all children over the age of 5 and under 8 who are over 40 lbs. but under 80 lbs. Until a child is 57 inches (4 feet 9 inches) tall, he must be in a booster seat.
Safety Belt
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Once the child is 57 inches or taller, 80 lbs. or more, and age 8, Wisconsin law requires him to be restrained by a safety belt while in a car.
Exemptions
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If your child's body size or physical or medical condition make it unreasonable for him to ride in a booster seat, then he is exempt from doing so. No "personal needs" exemptions exist that would allow you to remove him from a car seat while the car is moving for the purpose of feeding or diapering or otherwise caring for his needs.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
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Wisconsin fines drivers with children if they do not have a child properly restrained in the vehicle.
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References
- Photo Credit child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com
