The Illinois Child Restraint Law

 

Public Act 930100

SB52 Enrolled                        

    AN ACT in relation to vehicles.

    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

    Section 5.  The Child Passenger Protection Act is amended

by changing Sections 2, 4, 4a, 4b, and 5 as follows:

    (625 ILCS 25/2)

    Sec.  2.   Legislative Finding - Purpose.  The General

Assembly finds that a substantial number of passengers under

the age of 8 years riding in motor vehicles, which are most

frequently operated by a parent, annually die or sustain

serious physical injury as a direct result of not being

placed in an appropriate child passenger restraint system.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for

children of every age from 4 to 14 years old.  The General

Assembly further finds that the safety of the motoring public

is seriously threatened as indicated by the significant

number of traffic accidents annually caused, directly or

indirectly, by driver distraction or other impairment of

driving ability induced by the movement or actions of

unrestrained passengers under the age of 8 years.

    It is the purpose of this Act to further protect the

health, safety and welfare of motor vehicle passengers under

the age of 8 years and the motoring public through the

proper utilization of approved child restraint systems.

(Source: P.A. 83-8.)

    (625 ILCS 25/4) 

    Sec. 4.  When any person is transporting a child in this

State under the age of 8 years in a non-commercial motor

vehicle of the first division, a motor vehicle of the second

division with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds

or less, or a recreational vehicle on the roadways, streets

or highways of this State, such person shall be responsible

for providing for the protection of such child by properly

securing him or her in an  appropriate child restraint

system.  The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age

of 8 years shall provide a child restraint system to any

person who transports his or her child.  Any person who

transports the child of another shall not be in violation of

this Section unless a child restraint system was provided by

the parent or legal guardian but not used to transport the

child.

    For purposes of this Section and Section 4b, "child

restraint system" means any device which meets the standards

of the United States Department of Transportation designed to

restrain, seat or position children, which also includes a

booster seat.

    A child weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported

in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap

belt if the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped

with a combination lap and shoulder belt.

(Source: P.A. 88-17.)

    (625 ILCS 25/4a)

    Sec.  4a.  Every person, when transporting a child 8 

years of age or older but under the age of 16, as provided in

Section 4 of this Act, shall be responsible for properly

securing that child in seat belts.

 (Source: P.A. 92-171, eff. 1-1-02.)

    (625 ILCS 25/4b)

    Sec. 4b.  Children 8 years of age or older but under

the age of 18; seat belts.  Every person under the age of 18

years, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older

but under the age of 18 years, as provided in Section 4 of

this Act, shall be responsible for securing that child in a

properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt or an

appropriate child restraint system.

(Source: P.A. 90-369, eff. 1-1-98.)

    (625 ILCS 25/5)

    Sec. 5.  In no event shall a person's failure to secure a

child under 8 years of age in an approved child restraint

system constitute contributory negligence or be admissible

as evidence in the trial of any civil action.

(Source: P.A. 86-1241.)

 Effective Date for above: 01/01/2004

 

CHILD SEAT GUIDELINES

 

Be sure your child is in the appropriate seat for the child's size and weight. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for height and weight guidelines.

 

             

Infants under one year of age and weighing less than 20 lbs., should ride in a rear-facing child safety seat (infants heavier than 20 lbs., but under one year of age should ride in a convertible seat that will hold a 30 lb. baby rear-facing).

Children weighing between 20 and 40 lbs. and over one year of age, may ride in a forward-facing convertible seat.

              

Children weighing between 40 and 70 lbs. should use a belt positioning booster seat to help correctly position the safety belt across the shoulder and hips. This particular seat is recommended for a child who has outgrown his/her forward-facing seat but is not yet ready for the lap/shoulder combination.

 

·         NEVER place rear-facing safety seats in the front passenger seat if the vehicle is equipped with a passenger airbag that has not been shut off with a switch.

·         When installing a car seat, adjust the harness to fit snugly and secure the car seat tightly with the safety belt.

·         Always read the child safety seat instructions and the car owner's manual.

·         All child safety seats must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, which governs the performance standards for child safety devices. Make sure the safety seat is clearly marked, "Meets FMVSS 213."

·         To be notified of any recalls, register a child safety seat by sending the registration card to the manufacturer.

·         NEVER hold a child on your lap while the vehicle is moving. In a collision, the child is not protected from injury.

·         Pre-owned child safety seats should not be used unless you are certain they have never been involved in a crash, have all the pieces (including instructions), and have been checked for recalls.

·         Do not use a child safety seat that is more than 10 years old.

·         It's important to remember that the "best" child safety seat is the one that correctly fits the child, the vehicle, and is used correctly every time.

·         Always use your safety belt. Parents who buckle up usually buckle up their children.

 

 

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