TENNESSEE’S CHILD RESTRAINT LAW

Effective July 1, 2004 

Ø      Children under 1 year of age or any child weighing 20 pounds or less must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system in a rear seat, if available.  The child restraint system must meet federal motor vehicle safety standards and be installed correctly according to restraint system or vehicle manufacturer instructions.  (If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight, usually 30 or 35 pounds, it may be used in a rear-facing position as long as the child’s weight permits.)

Ø      Children age 1 through age 3, and weighing more than 20 pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward-facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.

Ø      Children age 4 through age 8, and measuring less than 5 feet in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.

Ø      Children age 9 through age 12, or any child through 12 years of age, measuring 5 feet or more in height, must be secured in a seat belt system.  It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available.

Ø      Children age 13 through age 15 must be secured by using a passenger restraint system, including safety belts, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Ø      Provision is made for the transportation of children in medically prescribed modified child restraints.  A copy of the doctor’s prescription is to be carried in the vehicle utilizing the modified child restraint at all times.

Ø      The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that children under age 16 are properly restrained and may be charged and fined $50.00 for violation of the law.  If the child’s parent or legal guardian is present in the car but not driving, the parent or legal guardian is responsible for making sure that the child is properly transported and may be fined for non-compliance.

Ø      Police officers observing violations of this law are permitted to stop drivers and take enforcement action.