Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 102.102 - Physical criteria for use of child passenger restraint system(a)General criteria. Children under 4 years of age shall be securely fastened in a safety seat belt system and a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age shall be securely fastened in a safety seat belt system and an appropriately fitting child booster seat in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.(b)Exemption based on child's weight or height, or on vehicle characteristics. Exemption from the general criteria in subsection (a) is as follows: (1) Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age who weigh less than 40 pounds may, in lieu of use of a booster seat, be securely fastened in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.(2) Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age riding in a passenger position in the vehicle which was not originally equipped with a shoulder safety seat belt shall be fastened in the safety seat belt system without the use of a child booster seat or may be fastened in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.(3) Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age who weigh more than 80 pounds or who are of a height of 4 feet 9 inches or taller may be fastened in the safety seat belt system without the use of a child booster seat.(c)Integrated child restraint or booster seat. The requirements of this chapter may be satisfied by securing a child, in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer, in a child passenger restraint system or vehicle seat designed to accommodate children under 80 pounds, which is integrated into the design of the vehicle by the vehicle manufacturer.