Car Seat Regulations for Zone 3
 

Delaware

http://www.delcode.state.de.us/title21/c048/index.htm#TopOfPage
§ 4803. Child restraint in motor vehicles.
(a) Every person shall be responsible, when transporting a child through the age of 6 and weighing less than 60 lbs. in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets or highways of this State, for providing protection of the child by properly securing the child in all seating positions, according to manufacturer's instruction, in a child safety seat or booster seat meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, and that is appropriate for the child's weight and height. Every child who has either attained the age of 7 or a weight of 60 lbs. and has not yet attained the age of 16 shall, in all seating positions, wear a properly secured seatbelt while in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets or highways of this State. The duty imposed by this subsection shall not apply to any operator or passenger of a motor bus, limousine or taxicab as defined in § 1801 of Title 2.
(b)(1) No child who is 65 inches or less in height and who is under 12 years of age shall occupy the front passenger seat of any vehicle equipped with a passenger-side airbag that has not been deliberately rendered inoperable in conformity with federal law. This subsection shall not apply to vehicles equipped with a passenger-side airbag specifically designed or modified by the vehicle's manufacturer for use by children and small adults.
(2) It shall not be a violation of this section for a child 65 inches or less in height and under 12 years of age to occupy the front passenger seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side airbag that has not been deliberately rendered inoperable in conformity with federal law if such vehicle does not have a rear passenger seat or if all rear passenger seats are occupied by other children 65 inches or less in height and under 12 years of age. A violation of this subsection shall be considered a secondary offense, and no motor vehicle shall be stopped by a police officer solely for failure to comply with this section.
(c) A violation of this section shall be an offense punishable by a fine of $25 for each violation. The failure to provide a child restraint system or seat belt for more than 1 child in the same vehicle at the same time, as required by this section, shall not be treated as a separate offense.
(d) A violation of this section shall not be considered as evidence of either comparative or contributory negligence in any civil suit or of criminal negligence or recklessness in any criminal action arising out of any motor vehicle accident in which a child under 16 is injured, nor shall failure to wear a child passenger restraint system or seat belt in violation of this section be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action.
(e) Following May 9, 2002, and prior to January 1, 2003, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security shall implement an awareness campaign to educate motorists about the components of the law and to encourage the public to correctly and consistently uses child safety seats, booster seats and seatbelts. (63 Del. Laws, c. 251, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 409, §§ 1, 2; 68 Del. Laws, c. 9, § 38; 68 Del. Laws, c. 34, § 2; 69 Del. Laws, c. 418, §§ 1-8; 71 Del. Laws, c. 480, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 254, §§ 1-3; 74 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 138; 74 Del. Laws, c. 129, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 277, §§ 8, 9; 74 Del. Laws, c. 316, §§ 1, 2.)

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District of Columbia

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Maryland

 
http://198.187.128.12/maryland/lpext.dll/Infobase/572f8/5bcd9/5bf68/5c08f?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0#JD_tr22-4122JD_tr22-4122

§ 22-412.2. Child safety seats.

(a)  Definitions.-  
(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 
(2) (i) "Child safety seat" means a device, including a child booster seat, that the manufacturer: 
1. Certifies is manufactured in accordance with applicable federal safety standards; and 
2. Intends to be used to restrain, seat, or position a child who is transported in a motor vehicle. 
(ii) "Child safety seat" does not mean a seat belt or combination seat belt-shoulder harness used alone. 
(3) (i) "Seat belt" means a restraining device described under § 22-412 of this subtitle. 
(ii) "Seat belt" includes a combination seat belt-shoulder harness. 
(b)  Accordance with directions of manufacturer required.- A child safety seat meets the requirements of this section only if it is installed and used in accordance with the directions of the manufacturer. 
(c)  Application to vehicles.- This section applies to the transportation of a child in a vehicle registered, or of a type capable of being registered, in this State as a: 
(1) Class A (passenger) vehicle; 
(2) Class E (truck) with a manufacturer's rated capacity of 3/4 ton or less, the gross vehicle weight of which does not exceed 7,000 pounds; or 
(3) Class M (multipurpose) vehicle. 
(d)  Child under age of 6 or weighing 40 pounds or less.- A person transporting a child in a motor vehicle registered in the State shall secure the child in a child safety seat in accordance with the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers' instructions if the child: 
(1) Is under the age of 6 years, regardless of the child's weight; or 
(2) Weighs 40 pounds or less, regardless of the child's age. 
(d-1)  Child under age of 4 or weighing 40 pounds or less.- A person transporting a child in a motor vehicle registered in another state, in the District of Columbia, or in another country, shall secure the child in a child safety seat in accordance with the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers' instructions if the child: 
(1) Is under the age of 4 years, regardless of the child's weight; or 
(2) Weighs 40 pounds or less, regardless of the child's age. 
(e)  Child weighing more than 40 pounds and less than age of 16.- A person may not transport a child under the age of 16 years unless the child is secured in: 
(1) A child safety seat in accordance with the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers' instructions; or 
(2) A seat belt. 
(f)  Medical exception.- If a physician, who is licensed to practice medicine in the state in which the vehicle transporting the child is registered, certifies in writing that use of a child safety seat by a particular child would be impractical due to the child's weight, physical unfitness, or other medical reason, there is not a violation of this section. 
(g)  Individual use.- A child safety seat or seat belt may not be used to restrain, seat, or position more than 1 individual at a time. 
(h)  Securing locations.- If the number of children subject to the provisions of this section exceeds the number of passenger securing locations suitable for securing a child either in a seat belt or in a child safety seat in accordance with this section, and all of those securing locations are in use by children, there is not a violation of this section. 
(i)  Effect of violations.- A violation of this section is not contributory negligence and may not be admitted as evidence in the trial of any civil action. 
(j)  Moving violation.- A violation of this section is not considered a moving violation for purposes of § 16-402 of this article. 
(k)  Separate violation.- The failure to provide a child safety seat or seat belt for more than 1 child in the same vehicle at the same time, as required by this section, shall be treated as a single violation. 
(l)  Fine; waiver.-  
(1) Any person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a fine of $25. 
(2) A judge may waive the fine if the person charged with violation of this section: 
(i) Did not possess a child safety seat at the time of the violation; 
(ii) Acquires a child safety seat prior to the hearing date; and 
(iii) Provides proof of acquisition to the court. 
(m)  Implementation; compliance.- The Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shall jointly implement the Child Safety Seat Program and foster compliance with this section through educational and promotional efforts. 

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Pennsylvania

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter102/chap102toc.html

§ 102.1. Purpose.
 (a)  Section 4581 of the act (relating to restraint systems) requires all children under 8 years of age traveling anywhere in a passenger car, Class I truck, Class II truck, classic motor vehicle, antique motor vehicle or motor home be fastened securely in a child passenger restraint system or child booster seat.
 (b)  Section 4581 also provides that exemptions will be allowed if it is determined, according to the rules and regulations of the Department, that the use of a child passenger restraint system or child booster seat would be impractical for physical reasons including, but not limited to, medical reasons or the size of the child.
 (c)  This chapter establishes the criteria determining when use of a child passenger restraint system is impractical.
§ 102.2. Definitions.
 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Act—75 Pa.C.S. § §  101—9910 (relating to Vehicle Code).

   Child booster seat—A child passenger restraint system or a belt positioning seat designed and manufactured to meet Federal motor vehicle safety standards in 49 CFR 571.213 (relating to child restraint systems) to position a child to properly sit in a Federally-approved safety seat belt system.

   Child passenger restraint system—A device or system to enhance the safety of children in motor vehicles which is designed and manufactured for use in motor vehicles equipped with a safety seat belt system and which meets the Federal motor vehicle safety standards in 49 CFR 571.213.

   Department—The Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth.
§ 102.3. Physical criteria for use of child passenger restraint system.
 (a)  General criteria. Children under 4 years of age shall be securely fastened in a safety seat belt system and a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age shall be securely fastened in a safety seat belt system and an appropriately fitting child booster seat in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.
 (b)  Exemption based on child’s weight or height, or on vehicle characteristics. Exemption from the general criteria in subsection (a) shall be as follows:
   (1)  Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age who weigh less than 40 pounds may, in lieu of use of a booster seat, be securely fastened in a child safety seat or other child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.
   (2)  Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age riding in a passenger position in the vehicle which was not originally equipped with a shoulder safety seat belt shall be fastened in the safety seat belt system without the use of a child booster seat and may be fastened in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for their height and weight in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.
   (3)  Children 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age who weigh more than 80 pounds or who are of a height of 4 feet 9 inches or taller may be fastened in the safety seat belt system without the use of a child booster seat.
§ 102.4. Medical exemption from use of child passenger restraint system.
 (a)  Exemption from the use of a child passenger restraint system for medical reasons may be obtained upon written certification by a physician that use of a child passenger restraint system is impractical. The certification shall be made on a form developed by the Department which shall requires the following information:
   (1)  The physician’s name and practice address.
   (2)  The date the form was completed.
   (3)  The name, age and weight of the child.
   (4)  The medical or physical reasons that the use of a particular child passenger restraint system or systems is impractical.
   (5)  A recommendation of the type of restraint the child should be fastened into or a statement that no appropriate restraint system is known.
   (6)  A recommendation regarding the length of time the exemption should extend, or a statement of the conditions under which the exemption should be lifted.
   (7)  Other information deemed relevant by the physician, such as whether the child can be fastened into the child passenger restraint system but for only limited periods of time.
 (b)  The completed form shall be in the possession of the vehicle operator whenever the child is being transported.

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Virginia

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1095

§ 46.2-1095. Child restraint devices required when transporting certain children; safety belts for other children less than sixteen years old required; penalty.
A. Any person who drives on the highways of Virginia any motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, shall ensure that any child, through age five, whom he transports therein is provided with and properly secured in a child restraint device of a type which meets the standards adopted by the United States Department of Transportation.
B. Any person transporting any child less than sixteen years old, except for those required pursuant to subsection A to be secured in a child restraint device, shall ensure that such child is provided with and properly secured by an appropriate safety belt system when driving on the highways of Virginia in any motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, equipped or required by the provisions of this title to be equipped with a safety belt system, consisting of lap belts, shoulder harnesses, combinations thereof or similar devices.
C. A violation of this section shall not constitute negligence, be considered in mitigation of damages of whatever nature, be admissible in evidence or be the subject of comment by counsel in any action for the recovery of damages in a civil action.
D. A violation of this section may be charged on the uniform traffic summons form.
E. Nothing in this section shall apply to taxicabs, school buses, executive sedans, limousines, or the rear cargo area of vehicles other than pickup trucks.

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West Virginia

§17C-15-46. Child passenger safety devices required; child safety seats and booster seats.
Every driver who transports a child under the age of nine years in a passenger automobile, van or pickup truck other than one operated for hire shall, while such motor vehicle is in motion and operated on a street or highway of this state, provide for the protection of such child by properly placing, maintaining and securing such child in a child passenger safety device system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards: Provided, That if a child is at least four years of age or at least forty pounds in weight, a safety belt shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of this section.
Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than twenty dollars.
A violation of this section shall not be deemed by virtue of such violation to constitute evidence of negligence or contributory negligence or comparative negligence in any civil action or proceeding for damages.
If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this section and to this end the subsections of this section are declared to be severable.
If all seat belts in a vehicle are being used at the time of examination by a law officer and the vehicle contains more passengers than the total number of seat belts or other safety devices as installed in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards, the driver shall not be considered as violating this section.

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