Car seat laws in Connecticut

A child under two years of age or weighing less than thirty pounds must ride rear-facing in a child restraint system equipped with a five-point harness. NHTSA and the AAP recommend going further: keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. A child under age 1 should always ride rear-facing, and most convertible seats allow rear-facing for 2 years or more.

A child under eight (but not under five), or weighing less than sixty pounds (but not less than forty), must ride in a five-point-harness seat or a booster seat secured by a seat safety belt. A booster may be used only with a belt that includes a shoulder belt. NHTSA and the AAP recommend going further: using a belt-positioning booster seat after your child outgrows the harnessed seat, until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach about 4 feet 9 inches tall and are 8 to 12 years old. The AAP says an adult seat belt fits when: the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly; and the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with knees bent over the edge of the seat without slouching, and can stay that way for the whole trip. NHTSA uses the same lap-belt and shoulder-belt checks. The 5-step test, which California writes into law from January 1, 2027, asks: 1) Does the child sit all the way back against the seat? 2) Do the knees bend over the edge of the seat? 3) Does the shoulder belt snugly cross the center of the chest and shoulder, not the neck? 4) Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs? 5) Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

No back seat rule, but a rear-facing seat may not go in the front seat of a vehicle with a functional passenger-side air bag. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

A first violation is an infraction; a second is a fine of up to $199; a third or later is a class A misdemeanor. Anyone with a first or second violation must take a DMV child car seat safety course, and the DMV may suspend the license for up to two months for skipping it. The court may remit a first-time fine if you show proof within 14 days that you acquired, rented or bought an appropriate seat.

NHTSA's locator lists 121 car seat inspection stations in Connecticut, in 90 cities and towns. Hartford has the most (9), then Enfield and New Haven (4 each). Certified technicians check seats for free in most cases. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code and call the station before you go.