Seat Belts and Car Seats
625 ILCS 25/4 — a child restraint under 8, rear facing under 2, and a belt for everyone else
Each driver and passenger of a motor vehicle on a street or highway wears a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt. The driver secures a passenger 8 or older but under 16 in a seat belt.
Who handles this in Illinois: Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Lawyer Finder; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Illinois directory.
| The child | What the driver provides |
|---|---|
| The childUnder 8 years | What the driver providesAn appropriate child restraint system, properly secured |
| The childUnder 2 years | What the driver providesA rear facing child restraint, unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall |
A seat belt violation is a petty offense with a fine of not more than $25. The parent or guardian of a child under 8 provides a child restraint to anyone who transports the child.
Sources for this section (2)
- 625 ILCS 5/12-603.1 — Driver and passenger required to use safety belts, exceptions and penalty
- 625 ILCS 25/4 — 625 ILCS 25/4
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.