Maine Car Seat Laws in 2022

Editor’s note: This article was updated in 2022 to link to a more appropriate section of the statute. It reflects changes in Maine car seat and seat belt law. 

In Maine law, a child under eight years old, weighing less than eighty pounds, and standing under 4’9″ tall must be properly fastened in a child safety seat appropriate for their height and weight according to the manufacturer’s instructions or in a federally approved child restraint system when riding in a vehicle required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with safety seat belts.

Children less than two years old must be properly fastened in a rear facing car seat, unless they outweigh the requirements for that seat. In this case, children less than two years old may be secured in a forward-facing car seat.

Children more than two years old who weigh less than Fifty-Five Pounds must ride in child restraint system that supports their height and weight.

A child safety seat is defined as a child safety seat meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are defined as the standards listed in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 571, effective January 1, 1981 and subsequently amended. A federally approved child restraint system is defined as a child safety restraint meeting the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and intended as crash protection in vehicles.

A child under twelve years old and weighing less than one hundred pounds must be properly secured in the rear seat of a vehicle, if possible, when riding in a vehicle that is required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with seat belts.

A child between eight and seventeen years old, or a child under eighteen years old and more than 4’9” inches in height, must be properly secured in a safety seat belt when riding in a vehicle that is required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with seat belts.

Children Under Two Years Old

Children under two years old must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat or a convertible car seat in the rear-facing position. The car seat must be federally approved and installed correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the child’s height and weight exceed the guidelines for the rear-facing car seat, the child can be properly secured in a forward-facing car seat.

Children Two Years Old and Older and Less Than Fifty-Five Pounds

Children older than two years old and weigh less than fifty-five pounds must be secured in a height and weight-appropriate child restraint system when transported in a motor vehicle required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with safety seat belts. The child passenger restraint system must have an internal harness and be approved by federal standards. The restraint system must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and federal guidelines. If the child outweighs the height and weight requirements of the car seat, they can be secured in a belt positioned child restraint system.

Children Under Eight Years Old, Less Than 80 Pounds, and Less Than 57 Inches Tall

Children under eight years old who weigh less than 80 pounds and are less than 57 inches tall must ride in a child passenger restraint system or another belt positioned car seat when riding in a motor vehicle required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to be equipped with safety seat belts. The child passenger restraint system must be installed correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and it must protect their height and weight.

Children Under Twelve Years Old

A child under twelve years old and weighing less than one hundred pounds must be properly secured in the rear seat of a vehicle, if possible, when riding in a vehicle that is required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with seat belts.

Children Between Eight and Seventeen Years Old

A child between eight and seventeen years old, or a child under eighteen years old and more than 4’9” inches in height, must be properly secured in a safety seat belt when riding in a vehicle that is required by the United States Department of Transportation to be equipped with seat belts.

Penalties for Violations

A violation of Maine’s child safety seat or safety seat belt law is a traffic infraction. You may be fined $50.00 for a first offense, $125.00 for a second offense, and $250.00 for a third or subsequent offense. The court may not suspend a fine imposed for violation of the child safety seat or safety seat belt law.

Exemptions

An operator may be exempt from Maine’s child safety seat or safety seat belt law if they have a medical condition diagnosed by a licensed physician that keeps them from wearing a seat belt or being secured in a child passenger restraint system correctly and safely. This medical condition must be documented with a physician’s certificate that is valid for up to 12 months. Maine’s Secretary of State will issue a windshield placard for the vehicle that the child rides in to label it as an exception to the car seat law.

U.S. Postal Service workers are not required to wear a seat belt while delivering mail. Those who deliver newspapers are not required to wear a seat belt while delivering newspapers or when entering and exiting the vehicle.

A contracted transportation service provider is not responsible for passengers securing themselves with a seat belt when a passenger is transported for a fee.

FAQ

What is the booster seat law in Maine?

Maine car seat law doesn’t state when a child can ride in a booster seat. The law states that children under eight years old that are less than 80 pounds and 57 inches tall must be properly secured in a belt positioned car seat or another child passenger restraint system. It must be appropriate for their height and weight.

What are the Maine state car seat laws for rear facing car seats?

Maine child car seat law states that children under two years old must ride in a rear-facing car seat. If the child is less than two years old and outweighs the requirements for the rear-facing car seat, they may be secured in a forward-facing car seat.

When can my child ride in the front seat in Maine?

Maine laws on safety belts and child passenger restraint systems states that children under 12 years old must ride in the back seat. The Maine Child Passenger Safety Program also states that children less than 13 years old AND less than 100 pounds must remain in the back seat, if possible.

* Ms. Blake is licensed in the state of Maryland. The information provided in this article does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.


Attorney Denise A. Blake*

Denise practices family law at Blake Law, LLC in Westminster, Maryland. She holds a Juris Doctor with an emphasis in Family Law from the University of Baltimore School of Law.