Car seat laws in the District of Columbia

A child under 2 who weighs less than 40 pounds or measures less than 40 inches must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child restraint seat. 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.

Children under 8 must be properly seated in an installed infant, convertible (toddler) or booster child safety seat, according to the manufacturer's instructions. A booster may only be used with both a lap and 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 general back seat rule. A parent carrying more of their own children than there are belts may leave some unrestrained, but an unrestrained child may not ride in the front seat. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

First offense: pay a $75 fine or attend a child restraint safety class ($25). Second: the class ($25) plus a $75 fine. Third: $125. Fourth and later: $150. Processed as a moving violation, with 2 points. The fine for a first violation of the under-3 rule is waived with proof you've since acquired an approved seat (purchase, gift or loan program).

NHTSA's locator lists 1 car seat inspection station in DC. Certified technicians check seats for free in most cases. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code and call the station before you go.