On January 1, 2019, new changes to the Child Passenger Protection Act went into effect in Illinois. These changes expanded child safety seat requirements based on age, height, and weight. These changes also added various exemptions based on height and weight.
Child Safety Seat Requirements By Age
Car seat laws in Illinois require specific accommodations for different-aged children. However, there are some exemptions based on height and weight. Consult these guidelines to learn how to keep your child safe while complying with the Child Passenger Protection Act.
Before Age Two
The amended act requires children under two years of age to be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system. Children taller than 40 inches or weighing more than 40 pounds may ride in the back seat secured with a lap belt only. Barring these exceptions, children must remain in a rear-facing child safety seat until age two.
Consider these additional installation guidelines:
- Never install a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag
- Follow the recline indicator when installing a rear-facing seat
- When rear-facing, place the harness straps/slots at or below shoulder level
- Ensure harness snaps are snug
- Ensure the harness clip is at the armpit level
Ages Two Through Four
Children in this age group should remain in a rear-facing child safety seat until they exceed the seat’s weight or height limit. After exceeding the seat’s limits, they may transition to a forward-facing child safety seat.
When setting up a forward-facing car seat for your child, do the following:
- Use internal harness system until the height/weight limit is exceeded
- Keep harness straps/slots at or above the shoulder level
- Make sure the top of the child’s ears are not above the seat’s top
- Keep harness clip at armpit level and harness straps snug
From Ages Four Through Eight
Children 4-8 should stay in a front-facing seat until they reach the seat’s weight or height limit. Then, they may transition to a belt-positioning booster seat. Adhere to these guidelines when setting up your child’s belt-positioning booster seat:
- Booster seats must be used with a lap/shoulder belt (not just a lap belt)
- The shoulder belt should rest snugly across the shoulder and chest (not the face or neck)
- The lap belt should lie low across the upper thighs (never the stomach)
- If using a booster seat with a back, make sure the top of the child’s ears are not above the top of the booster seat’s back
- If using a backless booster seat, position the vehicle’s head restraint properly
- Secure the booster seat with the seatbelt when it is not in use
From Ages Eight Through Twelve
The age to sit in the front seat in Illinois is between 8 and 12 for most children. Keep your child in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are tall enough to fit properly into an adult lap/shoulder belt. Once the child transitions to a lap/shoulder belt, observe the following safety guidelines:
- Make sure the lap belt lies low across the upper thighs instead of the stomach
- Place the shoulder belt snugly across the shoulder and chest (not the face or neck)
- Keep the hips and back of the child against the back of the seat
- Make sure that the child’s knees bend easily over the front edge of the seat
- Make sure your child’s feet are flat on the floor
General Child Passenger Safety Guidelines
Keep these Illinois child passenger protection rules in mind to keep your child safe in your car:
- Keep child passengers in rear-facing safety seats for as long as possible
- Place children in the backseat until at least age twelve
- Avoid installing a used child safety seat if possible
- Never use a child safety seat that is over six years old or past the stamped expiration date
- Do not attach non-regulated products to your child’s car seat
- Register your child safety seat with its manufacturer so you can be informed of any recalls
- Stow or tie down all objects in the vehicle so they do not become projectiles during a car accident
Serious Penalties for Endangering a Child
The point of the Child Passenger Protection Act is to keep children safe. Keep in mind that following these guidelines is required by law. Endangering the life or health of a child can incur serious legal consequences.
Leaving a child six or younger alone in a vehicle for more than ten minutes is also considered child endangerment. For acts of child endangerment, the at-fault party could suffer a variety of possible penalties, including:
- For a first violation, a sentence of up to 1 year in jail and as much as $2,500 in fines
- For a second violation, a sentence of 2-5 years in prison and a fine of upwards of $25,000
- For a violation that results in the death of the child, a prison sentence of two to ten years
Contact GWC for More Information
At GWC, we urge all motorists to take necessary steps to keep their children safe and sound on the road. To learn more about Illinois booster seat laws, call us at 312-999-9999 or chat with a live representative.
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