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The Car Seat Rules

23 V.S.A. § 1258 — rear facing under two, a harness under five, a booster under eight

  • A child under two rides in a rear-facing restraint with a harness.
  • A child under five not rear facing rides in a forward-facing restraint with a harness until the seat's limits.
  • A child under eight not in one of those rides in a booster seat, and anyone under 18 otherwise in a safety belt.
  • A child under 13 rides in a rear seat if practical, and no rear-facing seat goes in front of an active airbag.
  • 23 V.S.A. § 1258
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The civil penalty is $25 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $100 after that.

  • 23 V.S.A. § 1258
Sources for this section (1)
  1. 23 V.S.A. § 1258 — Child restraint systems; individuals under 18 years of age

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.

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