If you are unaware, you will be shocked to know that vehicle accidents are the main cause of death for most children, and this is usually because people are not sure how to properly restrain their children in the car seats.
From birth to age 13, children are required to obey the car seat laws in Michigan, which state that up till three years old, children must use rear-facing car seats.
Once they outgrow the height and weight limit of the seat and are below six years, they can use a forward-facing car seat.
Finally, once they get between 8 and 12 or cross the limits of their current seat, they can start to use booster seats.
These are the main rules and regulations, but if you would like to learn more, make sure you stick around and read the rest of the article.
Table of Contents
- 1 Michigan Car Seat Requirements By Ages
- 2 Car Seat Weight And Height Requirements In Michigan
- 3 Type Of Car Seat Laws In Michigan
- 4 When Is The Time For My Child To Sit In The Front Seat In Michigan?
- 5 What Happens If You Leave Your Child In A Car In Michigan?
- 6 Taxi Car Seat Laws In Michigan
- 7 Michigan Law Regarding Car Seats In Accidents
- 8 Uber Car Seat Laws In Michigan
- 9 Conclusion
Michigan Car Seat Requirements By Ages
As the child continues to grow, the same old seat will not be enough to properly take care of them, which is why the state of Michigan has set rules based on the ages of the children and when they can sit in a particular seat.
1 Year Old
All infants and toddlers must use car seat that is rear-facing when traveling in a car. This includes children one-year-old who must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat.
2 Year Old
Beyond the age of 1, children are allowed to use car seat that is forward-facing, but only if they exceed the weight and height limit of their rear-facing seat.
More often than not, a two-year-old will require a car seat with rear-facing.
3 Year Old
Once a child hits the age of 3, they are no longer required to use a car seat that is rear-facing, meaning they should shift to a front-facing seat at their convenience.
This seat will now be used for the next few years.
4 Year Old
When your child hits the age of 4, the state of Michigan allows them to shift towards a booster seat but only if they surpass the limits of their front-facing car seat.
Sticking to the front-facing car seat is recommended until they reach the age of 5.
5 Year Old
Children should have no problem getting into a booster seat by five years old, but if they are still not tall enough or underweight, they are perfectly safe in sticking to their front-facing car seat.
6 Year Old
The same rules that apply to five-year-olds also apply to 6-year-olds. They can switch to a booster seat, but only if they fulfill the weight and height requirements required.
7 – 9 Year Old
Between the ages of 7 and 9, your child should easily be able to fit into a booster seat and have the correct heights and weights necessary to do so.
They should shift from a front-facing to a booster seat once they reach the age of 7. Starting from year 8, children can also simply use seat belts.
10 Year Old
If your ten-year-old is below the height of 4 feet 9 inches, then they are required by law to use a booster seat, but if they exceed this height, they can stop using booster seats and move up to using the seat belts of their car.
Car Seat Weight And Height Requirements In Michigan
There is not a lot of emphasis regarding height and weight in the car seat guidelines of the state of Michigan. Most of the importance is given to age as a factor.
Generally, children below 20 pounds should be kept inside a rear-facing car seat, but to move up to a front-facing car seat, you will have to outgrow car seat that is rear-facing in terms of weight and height if you are living in the state of Michigan.
It is the same for changing from a front-facing car seat to a booster seat. You have to break the limits of the front-facing car seat.
Once the child grows taller than 4 feet 9 inches, they can stop using seat belts and use the seat belts instead.
Type Of Car Seat Laws In Michigan
There are a few laws here and there when it comes to car seats that you have to make sure to follow when living in the state of Michigan.
1. Rear Facing Car Seat
Aside from the height and weight limits of the seat, which you should follow, you are required to use it for children below 20 pounds, and it must have a proper child restraint system.
2. Forward Facing Car Seat
Michigan state law for forward-facing car seats is that your child must travel inside it until they are at least four years old.
The state also recommends parents stick with a car seat that is rear-facing if that is still an option, as it is much safer.
3. Booster Seat
If your child is between 4 and 8, they must travel in a booster seat, but only if they exceed the limits of the front-facing car seat and only if they are below 4 feet 9 inches.
They can use seat belts instead of booster seats if they cross this height.
When Is The Time For My Child To Sit In The Front Seat In Michigan?
If your child is under the age of 4, they have to ride in the car’s rear seat. The only exemption to this is if children under the age of 4 occupy the entirety of the rear screen.
If this is the case, your child may ride in the car’s front seat as early as four years old, but only if the passenger seat’s airbag is off.
It is recommended to keep your children in the rear seat for extra safety.
What Happens If You Leave Your Child In A Car In Michigan?
You are not allowed to leave your child unattended in a car for extended periods while in the state of Michigan, especially if you risk injury and harm to the child.
This applies to children that are less than six years old.
If you are caught violating this law, then by state law, you will be accountable for a $500 fine and imprisonment for up to 93 days.
This counts as a misdemeanor; however, if there is physical harm to the child, the fine goes up to $1000, and the punishment is over a year of jail.
If there is serious harm, you can face $5000 in fines and ten years of jail time, and if the child dies, this goes up to $10,000 in fines and 15 years of jail time. Both of these are felonies.
Taxi Car Seat Laws In Michigan
Taxi cars are exempt from the state’s laws on car seats for children. This means you do not have to use a car seat if you are traveling in a taxi.
If you do want to provide your child with the safety they deserve, then you will have to bring a booster seat yourself.
Michigan Law Regarding Car Seats In Accidents
The state of Michigan does not talk about laws related to car seats when they go through an accident and does not talk about replacements in any form.
If your child’s car seat has been in an accident, you must make sure that it is replaced at the earliest.
Uber Car Seat Laws In Michigan
Uber and other shuttles for hire cars also have the same law apply to them as taxis and busses do in that you do not need to use a booster seat.
While it is recommended that you bring your own booster seat and set it up, you are not required by the law to do so.
Conclusion
To combat the excess mortality rate that children face while in motor vehicles, the state of Michigan has set these rules in an attempt to make sure that parents treat their children with the care they deserve and provide them with the protection they need when traveling in a car.
Michigan car seat laws have also broadly and with a lot of detail, listed out the punishments of abusing your child by leaving them in a car alone and various other rules related to car seat laws that you have to follow, so make sure you understand them to the letter.
I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.
