Virginia’s Child Restraint Device Law
(Code of Virginia Article 13 - Section 46.2)
The major requirements of Virginia's Child Restraint Device Law:
- Effective July 1, 2007: Child restraint devices are required for children through the age of seven (until 8th birthday). Child restraint devices must be properly used and meet standards adopted by the United States Department of Transportation.
- Effective July 1, 2007: Rear-facing child restraint devices must be placed in the back seat of a vehicle. In the event the vehicle does not have a back seat, the child restraint device may be placed in the front passenger seat only if the vehicle is either not equipped with a passenger side airbag or the passenger side airbag has been deactivated.
- Effective July 1, 2007: Children can no longer ride unrestrained in the rear cargo area of vehicles.
- The law applies to anyone (i.e. parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends) who provides transportation for a child in any vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968.
- Public transportation (taxis, buses), regulation school buses, and farm vehicles are exempted.
- The child restraint device law is primary enforcement -- no other violation need be committed prior to ticketing for failure to have a child in an approved seat.
- A $50 civil penalty fine is imposed for failure to transport a child in a child restraint device. A $20 civil penalty fine is assessed when persons transporting a child exempted from this law due to medical reasons do not carry a written statement of the exemption. All fines collected go into a special fund to purchase safety seats for low-income families.
- There are assistance programs for low-income residents who cannot afford a safety seat. Contact Virginia Department of Health, Center for Injury and Violence Prevention at 1-800-732-8333 for more information.
Virginia’s Passenger Safety Belt Law
(Code of Virginia Article 12 - Section 46.2)
The major requirements of Virginia's Child Safety Belt Law:
- Effective July 1, 2007: Children age 8 through age 15 (until age 16) must be belted correctly in vehicle safety belts in vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. Exemptions are taxicabs, school buses, executive sedans and limousines.
- This safety belt law is primary enforcement -- no other violation need be committed prior to ticketing for failure to have a child correctly buckled up.
- A $50 civil penalty fine will be imposed. All fines collected go into a special fund to purchase safety seats for low-income families.
Virginia’s Pickup Truck Law
(Code of Virginia Section 46.2 - 1094)
The major requirements of Virginia’s Pickup Truck Law:
- No child under the age of 16 shall be transported in the rear cargo area of a pickup truck. There are exemptions for certain parades and farming operations.
Virginia Department of Health
Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program
The Safety Seat Program is a statewide child safety seat distribution and education program offered free of charge to eligible families. Please click here for more information.
For more information, contact:
Division of Injury and Violence Prevention
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
1-800-732-8333
