New Car Seat Law Takes Effect This Week In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's new car seat regulations go into effect this Friday, Aug. 12. The bill, passed in June, mandates children less than 2 years old be secured in a rear-facing car seat. Children must be rear facing until the child outgrows the maximum weight and limits designated by the manufacturer, according to information from the governor's office.

With the new law, Pennsylvania becomes the fourth state in the country to mandate rear-facing seat positioning until 2. The other states that have passed similar laws are California, New Jersey and Oklahoma.

Anyone who violates the law will receive a verbal warning only for the first year. Beginning in August 2017, each violation will result in a $125 fine.

According to AAA, car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for children less than 14.

“This new child car seat regulation makes Pennsylvania a leader in child passenger safety, becoming only the fourth state to require rear-facing car seats for children until at least two years of age,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Industry research, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board, clearly shows infants and toddlers should continue to ride rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height recommended by the manufacturer of the seat."

Upon signing the bill in June, Gov. Tom Wolf said: “We have no greater responsibility as public servants than protecting our most vulnerable, including especially young children."

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