Like every other state in the U.S., Colorado requires children to sit in appropriate car or booster seats when riding in cars. Children age 15 and under must use a child restraint system or seat belt as appropriate for their height and weight. Failing to secure a child in a vehicle properly constitutes a primary offense, which means police can stop a car if they observe an unsecured minor occupant. Drivers may also face criminal charges if they have an unsecured minor passenger who suffers injuries in a crash.
What are the Height and Weight Requirements for Car Seats in Colorado?
Under Colorado car seat laws, children typically must sit in car seats until they reach a weight of 40 pounds, when they usually exceed the maximum weight ratings of commercially available car seats. The specific car seat requirements change as a child grows up:
- Children under 12 months and weighing less than 20 pounds – Rear-facing child safety seat placed in the backseat only
- Children 1 to 3 and less than 20 pounds – Rear-facing child safety seat
- Children under 12 months and between 20 to 40 pounds – Rear-facing child safety seat
- Children 1 to 3 and between 20 and 40 pounds – Rear- or forward-facing child safety seat
- Children 4 to 7 and between 20 and 40 pounds – Forward-facing child safety seat or booster seat
Once a child reaches 40 pounds, they typically switch to a booster seat. Booster seats ensure that seat belts lie across a child’s body in the correct position, with the lower strap across the child’s lap rather than their waist or stomach and the upper strap across the child’s chest rather than their neck. When a seat belt lies correctly across the child’s body without a booster seat, they no longer need one.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in Colorado?
State and federal traffic officials and automobile safety experts recommend that children sit in the back seat until age 13. A child in the front seat must sit in a height and weight-appropriate child restraint system or booster seat.
In Colorado, a child can technically sit in the front seat once they reach 12 months old and 20 pounds, but only if no rear seat is available. They must be in a front-facing car seat positioned as far away from the airbag as possible.
What Are the Seat Belt Requirements for Children in Colorado?
Colorado’s seat belt law requires drivers and all front-seat passengers of motor vehicles to wear seat belts. However, the law also requires children 15 and younger to wear seat belts regardless of their seating position in a car. The seat belt requirement does not apply when an individual has a diagnosed physical or psychological condition that prevents using a seat belt or when an individual rides in a vehicle not required to have seat belts under federal law.
Are There Exceptions to Colorado’s Car Seat Laws?
Colorado law allows specific exceptions to the car seat law, including:
- Children under age 8 transported in a motor vehicle without a child restraint system for a medical or other life-threatening emergency
- Children transported in a commercial motor vehicle operated by a child care center
- Children transported in a vehicle operated by or on behalf of a common carrier, public transit authority, contract carrier, or luxury limousine service
Are There Penalties for Car Seat Violations in Colorado?
As a primary enforcement law, police in Colorado may pull over a driver if they observe an unrestrained passenger who appears 15 years old or younger in the vehicle. Police do not need to observe another traffic infraction to initiate the traffic stop. Any driver operating a car with an unsecured child passenger may receive a citation for a Class B traffic infraction, which carries a $65 fine plus a $6 surcharge. We have law offices in every major city across Colorado and Texas. Contact our Denver car accident attorney today.
How Do I Safely Use a Car Seat?
Parents and guardians can help keep their children safe in the car by following these tips for safely using child safety seats and booster seats:
- Follow the car or booster seat manufacturer’s instructions when installing the seat. Colorado provides free car seat safety inspection stations for people who want to learn how to install their car or booster seat or ensure they’ve done so correctly.
- Replace your car or booster seat once your child’s height and weight exceed the seat’s manufacturer-stated limits.
- Do not use an old or used car seat, as the seat may have missing equipment or instructions, hidden damage, or defects. Always purchase new car or booster seats from a reputable manufacturer or retailer.
- Replace your car seat once it expires. The plastic in a car seat can degrade over time, and wear and tear from use can impair the seat’s safety features. All car seats should have labels bearing their expiration date.
- Check the car seat model for a recall before you buy. The government recalls car seats with design or manufacturing defects that affect the seat’s ability to keep a child safe.
- Always buckle your children in a car or booster seat, even for short trips.
- Remove a child’s coat or other bulky clothing before strapping them into a car seat. Thick clothing can interfere with the seat straps’ ability to secure the child.
- Replace your child’s car seat if you get into a moderate or severe car crash (including when your vehicle’s airbags deploy). Many safety features in car seats that prevent children from suffering injuries in a collision perform best in only one accident and will not provide optimal protection in subsequent wrecks.
What Is the “Back Seat Until 13” Rule?
In Colorado, the recommendation that children remain in the back seat until age 13 is a safety standard supported by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Colorado State Patrol, though it is not a strictly ticketable offense like booster seat age requirements.
Front-seat airbags are designed for adults. They deploy with enough force to cause catastrophic head or neck injuries to children whose bone structure is not yet fully developed. Experts and Colorado safety advocates specify age 13 because, by this point, a child’s skeleton is typically strong enough to withstand the impact of an airbag deployment.
Children should occupy the middle of the back seat if possible, as this is the furthest point from any potential impact zone (side or front).
The 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test for Transitioning Out of Booster Seats
In Colorado, transitioning a child from a booster seat to a standard seat belt—and eventually to the front seat—is governed by the 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test. While Colorado law mandates a booster seat until a child’s 8th birthday, physical fit is more important than age for preventing seat belt syndrome injuries.
If the shoulder belt rubs the child’s neck, they often tuck it behind their back or under their arm. In a crash, this causes the lap belt to ride up into the soft tissue of the abdomen, leading to severe internal organ damage.
Your child is ready to ditch the booster and consider the front seat only if they can answer “Yes” to all five of the following:
- Back Against the Seat – Does the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat without slouching?
- Knees Over the Edge – Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over the edge of the seat cushion?
- Belt Across the Shoulder – Does the shoulder belt rest across the collarbone (between the neck and arm), rather than touching the face or neck?
- Lap Belt on the Hips – Does the lap belt sit low and snug across the upper thighs/hips, not the stomach?
- Stay Put – Can the child remain in this position for the entire duration of the trip?
Practical Guidance for Front Seat Use When Necessary
While Colorado safety experts strongly advise keeping children in the back until age 13, there are rare instances—such as driving a two-seater truck or a full vehicle—where a child must sit in the front. If you have no other choice, follow these critical safety steps to minimize the risk of airbag-related injury:
- Slide the Seat All the Way Back – Move the front passenger seat to its furthest rear position on the tracks. This creates the maximum possible distance between the child and the dashboard where the airbag deploys.
- Deactivate the Airbag (If Possible) – Many modern vehicles have an Occupant Classification System that automatically turns the passenger airbag off for lighter passengers. Ensure the Airbag Off light is illuminated. If your vehicle has a manual key-operated bypass switch, use it.
- Never Place a Rear-Facing Seat in Front – It is illegal and extremely dangerous to place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an active airbag. The force of deployment against the back of the car seat can be fatal.
- Maintain Upright Positioning – Ensure the child is sitting completely upright with their back against the seat. Never allow the seat to be reclined while moving, as this can cause the child to slide under the lap belt during a crash.
- Enforce the 5-Step Test – Even in the front, the 5-Step Test must be met. If the belt rubs their neck or the lap belt sits on their stomach, they must still use their booster seat in the front chair to ensure the belt hits their hip bones and collarbone.
- Check the Vehicle Manual – Every car has specific manufacturer warnings regarding child passengers and airbags. Always consult the Child Safety section of your owner’s manual for vehicle-specific instructions.
Contact a Colorado Car Accident Lawyer
If you or your child suffered injuries in a car crash in Colorado caused by someone else’s negligence, you need top-quality legal representation to demand financial compensation for your losses. Contact The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free consultation with an experienced Colorado car accident attorney.
