SafeKids.org

Tennessee State Child Occupant Protection Law

Effective Date
07/01/2004

Law Mandate

* Children under age 1 or weighing 20 pounds or less must use a rear-facing child safety seat in the rear seat (if available).

* Children ages 1 to 3 and weighing more than 20 pounds must use a forward-facing child safety seat in the rear seat (if available).

* Children ages 4 to 8 and measuring less than 5 feet in height must use a booster seat in the rear seat (if available).

* Children ages 9 to 12 (or any child through age 12) measuring 5 feet or more in height must use a safety belt in the rear seat (if available).

* Children ages 13 to 15 must use a safety belt in the rear seat (if available).*

* Tennessee requires the driver to secure both the child safety seat and the child properly.

By Kate on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 09:41 pm:

Um, Trina....aren't you appalled at the one where it says children ages 1 to 3 and weighing more than 20 pounds MUST use a FORWARD facing seat??? Don't most seats go up to 30-35 pounds rear facing these days? I think this mandate is going to encourage people to turn their babies around as soon as they hit the one year/20 pound mark.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 10:24 pm:

Yes Kate, CPS Techs aren't happy about that part. Totally goes against the extended rear facing recommendation put out by safety experts and the AAP.

Rear Facing - Unmatched Safety

By Feona on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 06:28 am:

You know what it is that everyone is so confused about it.

I remember when ds was under one and weighted over 20 pounds. I didn't know what to do with him and no one else did either. Notice he didn't fit into any category.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 07:08 am:

That's a good point, Feona. There are a lot of babies who are 20 lbs. before 12 mos.. My DS was one of them! In fact, that's when I got into child passenger safety. DS hit 20 lbs. at 6 mos. and I was getting conflicting info. I started doing research and have never stopped. LOL! Even though a child in that scenario doesn't fit into one of the new TN categories above he/she would be safest rear facing in a convertible seat that's rated up to 30-35 lbs. for as long as possible. (Until he/she outgrows the rear facing limits of the car seat)




CPS Techs have a saying... "It's not about laws, it's about lives." Meaning the laws of physics will always over ride the laws of man. Parents often think they're doing what's safe for their kids simply by following their state child restraint laws. In my state of CT, it's legal for a child to ride in only a vehicle seat belt as soon as they turn 4 or reach 40 lbs.. MANY parents think this is perfectly OK just because the law says so. Argh! Safety experts have determined kids are safest in a booster seat until they are at least 4'9" and 80-100 lbs.. That is the smallest sized person a vehicle seat belt is designed to restrain.




State child restraint laws are listed here. As you can see, they vary A LOT. My point is, do your research and follow the recommendations put out by Child Passenger Safety experts.

State Child Restraint Laws

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. LOL!


Trina
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

If anyone has any questions or concerns I'd be happy to help!

By Kaye on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 11:17 am:

I just have to add that up until recently I think we were all very under educated, we were told the laws and that is it. In texas at least, still docs don't know what is suggest over what is the law. When my middle child turned 2 here in the great state our law was age 2, age 2 and you could be in a seat belt. To be honest I never thought anything different, I mean he was as big as my 4 year old and she was in a seat belt. It wasn't until we moved to Ohio, the law was 4 there, that I started doing research, trying to see if I was breaking the law..LOL. That is when I saw just how unsafe that was and they both went into boosters (my middle kid was already WAY past the weight limit and was a very easy going (read sat still) kid. To make a long story short, it was only about a month later that we were in a major wreck and got to see first hand how well those boosters worked! My 6 year old now still is in one.

By Coopaveryben on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 01:49 pm:

I live in Tennessee and I agree with everything...the only thing that kind of makes me laugh is that 15 year olds are supposed to be buckled in the back, yet they are old enough to drive.