What are the Massachusetts Car Seat Laws?

 

Welcome to the Massachusetts Car Seat Law Explained in Simple, Plain English!

You have found just the right place if you want to find out what’s the latest laws for car seats in the state of Massachusetts.

Look:

Being a mother of 3 brought me up to speed fast regarding car seat laws. Plus, being a former paralegal, I understand the law easily, and I can explain it in simple terms, so even the most sleep-deprived parent understands it.

I know how hard it is to find the right lawn and then decipher that dry and boring text. Here’s some good news you don’t have to because I’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

I have not only broken down lawyer jargon but also answered the most important questions regarding car seat laws. Maybe you want to know the booster seat laws or when you should use a forward-facing car seat, or if car seats are needed in taxis. Yes, I have answered all of these and more.

Let’s get started already!

 

massachusetts-car-seat-laws

By reading this article you agree that it’s for informational purposes and I can’t be held liable for the best advice ask the appropriate person.

 

Massachusetts Booster Seat Laws

Massachusetts-Booster-Seat-Laws

In the state of Massachusetts, there’s a blanket car seat law. So there’s no exact age set when you should put your child in a booster seat. If we check manufacturer’s they recommend either the age of 4 or when they have outgrown their forward-facing car seat.

However, the law says that until the age of 8 or when they reach the height of 57 inches, they can stop using boosters and use the seat belt instead.

 

Massachusetts Rear-facing Car Seat Laws

As mentioned above, the blanket law only says that you should use the appropriate car seat for your child. Now, if we look at manufacturer’s they all recommend keeping a child in rear facing mode until the age of 1.

However, experts recommend keeping a child in rear-facing until the age of 2 because that’s the safest way to ride.

 

Massachusetts Forward-facing Car Seat Laws

Again the blanket law doesn’t offer anything concrete. So the forward-facing car seat can be used when your child has outgrown their rear-facing car seat until they have reached the weight and height limit set by the manufacturer.

 

Massachusetts Taxi Car Seat Laws

The taxi law is a bit confusing because it can be interpreted differently. The law says that the taxi operator will not be fined if they don’t have a car seat for the child. But it begs the question, what about the parent who’s a passenger?

Or you can interpret it as taxis services being exempt from car seat laws.

 

When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Massachusetts?

There’s no law governing when a child can sit in the front; however, the Massachusetts government recommends that only kids above the age of 13 sit in the front.

 

Massachusetts Car Seat Laws at a Glance

Here you can find the entire law in one place:

Car Seat Law (Chapter90/Section7AA)

Law: According to the law, all kids under the age of 8 have to be secured by a child safety seat according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The only exception would be if the child has reached 57” in height, then they can be secured by the seat belt.

Location in car: There are no specifications where can a child sit within a vehicle

Taxi: In the state of Massachusetts, taxis are exempt from the car seat laws. However, if you want the safety, you will have to bring your own car seat.

RideSafer legal: Yes. The Ride Safer travel vest qualifies for children who are at least age 3 and 30 pounds.

Fines: $25

Seat Belt Law

  • Law: There’s no exception. All occupants within the vehicle have to wear a seat belt.
  • Fine: $25
  • RVs: The RV’s seat belt law follows the regular seat belt law, which means all occupants within the vehicle have to wear the seat belt, and in the case of children, they have to follow the car seat laws.

 

What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the car in Massachusetts?

There’s only a law for daycare providers for them. It’s illegal for them to leave a child unattended in a vehicle. There’s no law for private people.

 

Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Massachusetts?

At the moment, it’s still legal to smoke in a car while there’s a child on board. There are laws to ban smoking; however, they haven’t been voted yet.

 

Conclusions on Massachusetts Car Seat Laws

We have reached the end of this article. I hope you have found everything that you have been looking for. Besides the taxi laws, everything was easy to understand and implement.

By now, you should know how to keep your child safe and avoid fines.

Maybe you have questions that I missed answering? No problem, just send me a message, and I will get right on it.

Maybe you can help me out by sharing this post so other parents can know exactly how to keep their kids safe and avoid fines in the process. Thank You!

Related: Booster seat requirements ny

Related State: RI car seat laws

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

When can a child use a booster seat in Massachusetts?

According to the booster seat law in the state of Massachusetts, a booster seat is used according to the manufacturer’s recommendation as in between the ages of 4 to 8. Also, if a child turns 8 or their height reaches 57 inches, then they can be secure by the seat belt.

What are the car seat requirements in Massachusetts?

According to the law in the state of Massachusetts, all children below the age of 8 and height of 57 inches are required to use the appropriate car seat for them.

When can my child be in a backless booster seat?

In the state of Massachusetts, a backless booster can be used for a child in the age range of 8 to 12.

Does a 7-year-old need a car seat?

Yes, a 7-year-old in the state of Massachusetts has to use a car seat unless they have reached the height of 57 inches.

Who is a child passenger safety technician and what can they do?

child passenger safety technician can help you pick out the best child passenger restraint (child restraint) let it be for the front seat or back seat and even booster seats. Also they can help with car seat installation to make it tight and secure.

Does the massachusetts car seat law specify when can a child sit in the front?

According to the massachusetts car seat law there’s no specifics. However the general guidelines is that 12 years old and 13 years old and above sohuld use the front seat. Otherwise the back seat is the safest option.

Do car seat laws in massachusetts state what kind of car seats are needed at different ages?

Currently the car seat laws in massachusetts don’t offer specifics only mention that the appropriate car seats need to be used. For example under the age of 2 it’s rear facing car seats (child restraint) are advised. Now the infant carriers are outgrown rather quickly so the next upgrade would be the convertible car seats (child restraint). Once kids reach the age of 2 you can move them in front facing mode in convertible car seats. The final upgrade are booster seats (car seats, child restraint).

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley

Written by Linda Reid

Hey there, I'm Linda, a mom of three cool kids. I've tried so many car seats, you could call me a "Car Seat Detective." Searching for the perfect car seat can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but don't worry! I've committed to researching and reviewing car seats that are super safe, cozy, and great for growing kids. Together, we'll find the perfect car seat that keeps your child safe and cozy, and makes you feel like a super-parent!