A Quick Summary of Hawaii’s Car Seat Law
In the state of Hawaii, car seat regulations are designed to keep children safe while traveling in any motor vehicle. With guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Hawaii mandates the appropriate use of cargo van restraint systems, buses, and child safety seats. There are a number of requirements regarding child seat specifications, age, weight and height information and general guidelines. Hawaii requires that caregivers observe the child’s age, weight, and height in order to judge the proper restraints for use.
There are several basic requirements under Hawaii law. All parents or caretakers are required by law to transport their children in a car seat or booster seat until the age of 4. Children 4 years old and older must be in a properly used safety seat if they are in a vehicle and are less than 57 inches in height. From ages 4 through 7, children must use a child passenger restraint system that is certified by the manufacturer for their age and weight in order to be transported legally. Children that are between 4 to 7 years old who legally utilize an adult safety belt may not be required to use a booster seat in the rear seat. Parents should consider the child’s maturity and spatial awareness, however, when determining whether to allow the child to ride without a booster seat.
Current legislation states that all children under the age of 8 years old must be transported in a child passenger restraint system in rear seat of a motor vehicle. Hawaii also outlines the dimensions for booster seats, which are expected to accommodate children weighing anywhere from approximately 40 to 100 pounds. A child is no longer required to use a booster seat if he or she was at least 8 years old when he or she was transported in a child passenger restraint system certified by the manufacturer for the child and his or her age and weight . If at the time the child was transported, he or she was 57 inches or taller, Maui County will not require children 8 years old and under to utilize a booster seat.
All motor vehicles manufactured after July 1, 2005 must meet certain standards, such as having a center lap and shoulder seat belt assembly that can be appropriately adjusted to fit short passengers. Caregivers are encouraged to get the right age and weight specific seat installation, and many stores offer free or low-cost installation for parents. Roadside checks are also performed by certified technicians who are frequently in attendance at neighborhoods and big parking lots. New legislation in Hawaii permits these licensed individuals to inspect and install seats in certain cases. Older children, regardless of their height, weight, or age, are required by law to be properly and safely secured in a motor vehicle with a seat belt. Children that are 12 years old or younger must be secured in a rear seat of a vehicle, however, if a rear seat is unavailable, it is advised that the child sit as far away from the airbag as possible.
Hawaii law also regulates children in cargo vans. Children under the age of 8 years are prohibited from riding in the cargo area of a pickup truck. This legislation is new and enables that any similar cargo van in which the side and rear doors open inward only must be equipped with a cargo barrier as well as multiple additional restraints to be approved by the government. When seated behind the front seat, children who are less than 18 years old but not less than 8 years old in a pickup truck must have the seat belt designed to restrain them in the occupant’s seating position tight against their torso and fastened with a single, continuous lap and shoulder belt.
Car Seat Regulations for Babies and Toddlers
The laws on car safety are always changing, from seatbelts and rear windows to distracted driving with cellphones and tablets. Technological advancements in our vehicles are constantly adapting to improve safety for us and our family. But many people don’t know that there are also laws to keep our children safe. Hawaii’s laws on car safety include specific information about how your child should be buckled in the car. Car seat laws vary by state, and Hawaii has a few different options for infants and toddlers. Your child needs to be in an approved car safety seat until the age of 8. With moving times and new laws passing, these regulations have been updated.
Children under the age of 1 must be secured in a rear-facing infant seat in the back seat of the vehicle. Hawaii law does not allow a child under the age of 5 to be seated in the front passenger seat, even if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag. Based on recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child can remain in a rear-facing infant seat until he/she reaches the weight limit. The seat should be installed at a 45 degree angle. The straps should be tightened against the child as recommended by the manufacturer, and the seat should never tip forward while in use. Once your child reaches the weight limit for the infant seat, they can transition into a rear-facing convertible seat. Convertible seats are designed to be either rear or forward facing. They have a higher weight limit than an infant seat, usually 40-50 lbs. The shoulder straps should be at or above the child’s shoulders and the insert "boot" should be removed from the seat to make sure your child is properly buckled in. A rear-facing convertible seat is safe until your child reaches the appropriate weight. In accordance with Hawaii law, your child can continue to stay in this car seat until the age of 8. Once the weight limit of the seat is reached, it’s time for your child’s next car seat. In Hawaii, a child can be secured in a forward facing seat once they reach the age of 1 and 20 lbs. Many states, including Hawaii, recommend that the child remain in the rear-facing convertible seat until the age of 2. While your child can be buckled into a forward facing seat, they can remain in the rear-facing position as long as they are under 40-50 lbs. Following the car seat and child safety recommendations will help you get the most use out of your investment.
Required Car Seating for Children in Preschool and Older
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that preschool-aged children continue to be placed in a car safety seat or booster seat, because the toddlers’ head size is still proportionately large in relation to his body. The exact age a child may switch from a car safety seat to a booster seat depends on the child’s weight, height, and maturity level. Regardless of the child’s age, the seat should be replaced once it has been reached the expiration date (usually 5 to 10 years after manufacturer date), has been involved in a crash, has deteriorated, or is recalled. In general, though, it is best to keep your child in a booster seat until he reaches about 4 feet 9 inches tall and is over 80 pounds. If your child has already outgrown his car seat, there are a few options. You may be able to fit him into a convertible car seat, which sits up to 45 to 60 pounds. If your child has outgrown his current car seat, you may need to buy an extension piece to expand the car seat (can be used up to 80 pounds). Finally, if your child has outgrown both of those options, you may invest into a high back booster seat. This seat fits children typically measuring between 45 to 65 inches and 40 to 120 pounds. It is important that your child, when he reaches the age of 12, is able to sit comfortably without a booster seat. If a booster seat is still required, it is important to recognize that without the seat, the child is far more susceptible to serious injuries in a crash.
Penalties for Failure to Follow Hawaii’s Car Seat Laws
While the impetus behind Hawaii’s car seat laws are undoubtedly for safety, there are tangible legal consequences for parents who do not follow the law. For example, the Hawaii Revised Statutes indicate that a parent may be found liable for any damages a child causes to another person if the child was injured in a traffic accident while unrestrained in a motor vehicle in violation of state law.
Additionally, parents who choose not to or who cannot afford to secure the appropriate safety seats for their children also face the possibility of fines. In the state of Hawaii, the fine for not having the proper infant, toddler or booster seat is $100.00 per seat. Pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes, if the violator can show that he or she acquired the required safety seat within seventy-two hours and the fine was paid within this time period, a police officer may dismiss the fine. Therefore, while the Hawaii legislative body has provided a financial incentive to comply with the seatbelt law, the financial burden may still be substantial for some families and may create an undue burden from parents who cannot already afford to take care of their children.
How to Select the Right Car Seat for Your Child
As parents prepare to hit the road, it’s important to make certain that their children are secure in the car. Hawaii law outlines strict car seat requirements as part of its efforts to protect children from serious injuries in the event of accidents. The most effective way to ensure occupants’ safety and comply with the state’s legal requirements is to choose the right car seat for each child.
Keep in mind that a car seat’s regulations regarding weight and height requirements involve ranges. It’s important to acknowledge that choosing a car seat should involve far more consideration than simply falling within a certain range.
Beyond specificity in terms of age, weight, and height, several other considerations exist when choosing a car seat. Parents should make certain to choose a car seat that falls in line with their specific vehicles. Visiting the manufacturer’s website for guidance regarding proper installation can be helpful; they often will offer quality videos to guide the installation process.
Parents also should consider investing in the latest technology to enhance the safety of their children during transport. While rear-facing seats have long been considered the safest option — with some medical experts suggesting that infants should remain in these seats until reaching the age of two — advancements in safety technology have increased the security of forward-facing seats as well. Of course, safety and technology advancements do not absolve parents of the responsibilities involved in caring for their children .
Along with selecting the proper car seat for your child, you also should watch for car seat certifications when considering any model. When buying a car seat, thorough research should ensure that the model features certification from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) as well as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Before purchasing a car seat, further research should involve checking to see whether a particular model has been recalled. Childsafety.gov offers access to a comprehensive guide on car seat recalls. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a database that offers easy access to up-to-date information regarding recalls of various models.
When choosing the safest option for requiring children to use car seats, parents must determine whether their children are of the right age, weight, and height to require booster seats. Booster seats are designed to increase the height of a child in order to support proper seatbelt positioning. In the event of a crash, seatbelt positioning greatly influences children’s safety in the backseat. Just as it’s important to find the appropriate car seat for kids, parents must take similar care when finding the right booster seat for their children when necessary.
All parents should take the opportunity to review the rules and regulations concerning car safety now without experiencing the consequences of a failure to comply with the law.
Tips for Installing Your Car Seat and Additional Resources
Installing a car seat seems easy in theory. However, parents often struggle with the installation part. Plus, car seats can change over time. New safety features are added, and oftentimes, car seat laws change, too. This is why it’s important to know the proper way to install a car seat to ensure your child’s safety.
In Hawaii, there are several requirements for child car seats. They vary by the age of the child:
Infants in a rear-facing position must be in a federal motor vehicle safety standard-approved child restraint system until they are at least one year old and 20 pounds. Children who are over one year old and weigh 20 pounds or more must legally be in a booster seat. Kids must use a seat belt and a booster or convertible safety seat until they are eight years old, unless they’re taller than four feet, nine inches tall. Kids who are at least eight years old to 17 years old need to wear a seat belt on their own.
To know if you have the right type of car seat, check the label. The label will list your child’s weight and height limits. Compare that information against the weight/height of your child. If your child exceeds the limits, it’s time to start using a different type of safety system.
Since car seats have an expiration date, be sure to check the date on the back of the car seat. It can make a difference when it’s time to determine if a car seat is still safe.
It’s also important to know when the car seat should be replaced. One sign that could mean that the car seat has been damaged is if it was involved in a car accident. Car manufacturers recommend throwing out any car seat that has been in a collision. Another sign that could indicate that you need to get a new car seat is if you have a recalled car seat. If a car seat has been recalled, it’s best to contact the manufacturer to have the seat replaced.
The best way to install a car seat is to refer to the instructions that come with it. Also, be sure to refer to your car’s owner manual. In some instances, your car may have special instructions on how to install a car seat properly.
It’s important to make sure that the car seat fits snugly in your vehicle. The car seat should not budge by more than an inch in all directions. Federal law requires that base seat belts are used to secure car seats in place. Some vehicles have lower anchors that are a part of the LATCH system. The LATCH system can also be used to secure a car seat in your car.
In some instances, the LATCH system is a better choice over using a safety belt to have a car seat tightened into place. Check the instructions that came with your car and car seat to ensure that you are using the proper system to secure the car seat.
If you need car seat installation assistance, consult the National Child Passenger Safety Certification site for help.
Hawaii has a lot of resources available for parents and caregivers looking for assistance when it comes to installing car seats safely. Several police, fire and ambulatory locations throughout the state have places set up to install car seats properly. Some of these locations even have weekly events where staff members work to help parents, caregivers and others install car seats properly.
The monthly car seat safety check for Oahu, which you must sign up for online, takes place on the first Wednesday of every month, even in inclement weather. Residents of Oahu may also go to Pearl City Community Church’s car seat inspection event on the third Wednesday of each month.
Hawaii Car Seat Laws FAQ
What are the exceptions to Hawaii Car Seat Laws? While the law requires that all child passengers under the age of 4 must be secured in a car seat, there are limited exceptions. Children under the age of 4 who weigh over 40 pounds and are 40 inches tall may use a booster seat rather than a traditional car seat. The law provides an exception for preschool-aged children who are more than 57 inches tall and at least 5 years old in addition to an exception for a child who is in a medical restraint system that keeps them securely restrained in the event of an accident. What if I’m a tourist and rent a car in Hawaii—does the kid have to use the car seat? You have the option of using the car seat that is in your rental vehicle, so long as it satisfies the requirements of the state you’re from. Otherwise , you will need to buy or rent a child safety seat approved by the state of Hawaii. If I am visiting Hawaii and I have a child over the age of 4 but less than 8, can I let them use the seatbelt rather than using a booster seat? You cannot use just a seat belt until the child has outgrown the booster seat. You are also allowed to stop using a booster seat once the seat belt fits the child properly. In general, you can stop using a booster once the child is at least 8 years old, reaches 57 inches or weighs at least 80 pounds. Where can I find out more about Hawaii’s car seat laws? The Department of Health has published a comprehensive guide to child passenger safety in Hawaii. Hawaii laws can be found at the Hawaii State Legislature’s website situated here.