To know about the car seat law in Oklahoma, which protects children from injuries that can happen due to car accidents. Moreover, we will also see the various requirements for sitting in different types of seats. This article will also cover the fines for violating the law.
Introduction
As per Oklahoma laws, children of various heights, weights, and ages must be properly restrained to specific car seats. The main purpose of this law is to ensure the child’s safety so that they will remain protected from any injuries that can occur due to car accidents. If there is any young kid in your family, familiarize yourself with the Oklahoma car seat laws. It’s essential to understand which car seat will suit your child. So here in this article, you will find all the answers related to the various types of car seats under Oklahoma car seat law and understand the exemptions from this law.
The Oklahoma car seat rules or laws mainly focus on children’s safety. Children under the age of 8 and no height above 4’9” are required to sit on the child safety car seat. After that, they can move to the car seat with seatbelts. It also requires the children to stay in the car backseat because of airbags in the front seat, which can be more dangerous than a car accident.
Oklahoma car seat laws front seat
Currently, no rule or law in Oklahoma states the particular requirements for the Kid to ride in the car’s front seat. However, some manufacturers state that kids must not sit in the front seat of the car till they reach the age of 13. As for now, the maximum height and weight limit to sit in the car’s front seat are not specified. However, under the car seat law of Oklahoma, children who are more than 8 age but older than the age of 4 should ride only in the booster car until they reach adequate height and weight to sit in the front seat without using any child safety car seat. Once they reach the age of 12, they can sit in the car’s front seat, but it’s mandatory to use the seatbelt.
Moreover, to sit in the car’s front seat, the children must be 4’9” or taller than that. However, the parents can use the child’s car seat or booster seat till their child becomes big enough to fit in the seatbelt. Some studies have shown that children with a height of not more than 4’9” are more likely to get into car accidents or suffer severe injuries due to inadequate seatbelt fit. This is because of the presence of airbags which can open up during a collision and might suffocate the child sitting in the passenger seat. Therefore, the state government recommends keeping the child in the backseat until they reach the age of 13. Under Oklahoma guidance, the maximum age for sitting in the front seat is 13 years.
Oklahoma car seat laws height and weight
The Oklahoma law does not specify any weight or height limit to sit in the car’s front seat. It depends upon the manufacturer of the car seat. In most cases, the maximum weight and height limit to sit in the car’s front seat is taller than 4‘9“and weighing more than 40 pounds.
Oklahoma car seat laws rear-facing
The younger children and infants under the age of room must sit and secure inside the rear-facing seat of the car till they reach the limit of maximum weight and height to move to the next forward-facing car seat. It is one of the safest options for toddlers or young children. Children not over 20 pounds and not taller than 40 inches must sit in the rear-facing car seat. Riding in the rear-facing seat in the right position, where the legs are bent and against the back seat, is the most comfortable and safest position for children. This will protect their soft parts, such as the spinal cord, neck and head region, from injuries that might happen due to car crashes. Also, children under the age of four should be properly fitted and secure in the car seat with the help of an internal harness. The safe option from a restraint system is 5 pt. The harness must be use as much as possible.
Oklahoma car seat laws height and weight
Children under 2 should ride only in the restraint or rear facing seat. To sit in the rear-facing seat, the child should weigh less than 20 pounds, and the height should be less than 4 feet 9 inches. Once the child exceeds the height and weight limit to sit in the rear-facing car seat, then can move to the front-facing car seat.
Oklahoma booster seat law
The booster seat law for Oklahoma requires that the children can ride in the booster seat and the harnessed seat till they age 8 or their height is not more than 4 feet 9 inches. However, the weight and height limit required to sit in the booster seat must be checked based on instructions provided by the manufacturer. Most manufacturers require the children to restrain in the booster seat once they reach the age of 4, become taller than 40 inches, and weigh at least 40 pounds.
Height and weight requirements for a booster seat in Oklahoma
To sit in the booster seat, it’s required that the child should weigh less than 40 pounds or their height should not be more than 4 feet 9 inches. Once the child becomes taller than 4 feet 9 inches, they can ride in the car without using any child restraint device.
Oklahoma seat belt law exemptions
There are few exemptions to the recommended use of seat belts in Oklahoma. According to state law, adult passengers or children except those in school buses and drivers must be properly secured with a seat belt. But if the passenger has a certificate from any licensed doctor mentioning they can sit without needing a seat belt for specific medical reasons, they are exempted from this law. Also, passengers sitting in cabs or trucks are exempted from the Oklahoma seat belt law.
Penalties and Fines for a car seat in Oklahoma
If anyone fails to follow the laws or any rule regarding the Oklahoma car seat law, they need to pay a fine for not following it. For not properly using the harness system or correct seat, the person has to pay a fine of $50 for violating the rule and the court fees. But it can increase to $200 because of the added court fees. For violating the seat belt law, there is a penalty of $20. However, in many cases, the court dismisses the fine and takes only $15 as part of court fees under the first offence, and the driver needs to give proof that they have acquired the right safety seat. Likewise, receiving a safety seat or seat belt ticket in Oklahoma didn’t result in penalty points on the license or increased insurance costs.
Summing Up
It’s important to have a car seat law in every state to protect children from car accidents and reduce the overall death rate of children. Every state has their own set of rules and regulations; similarly, Oklahoma has its laws. As per the car seat law of Oklahoma, children above the age of 6 should properly sit inside the booster seat. Whereas children between the age group 0 to 3 must remain in the car’s rear seat. So all these laws are implemented to increase the protection of young children, especially infants. Once they reach the age of 12, they can sit in the front seat.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the cut-off age for a car seat?
There are certain guidelines for using child safety car seats, including how children use the seat. Depending on which car seat to be used, it is divided based on weight, height and age. But the essential component is the age of the child.
- 0 to 2 years
Children under the age of 2 and younger than that should sit only in the rear-facing seat when you take them out while driving.
- 2 to 4 years
Once the children become older than 2, they do not have to sit in the rear-facing seat; you can switch their position from the rear-facing seat to the forward-facing seat. But the forward-facing seat should only be placed on the backseat of the car.
- 4 to 8 years
Once the children reach age 4, they should move to the higher-order car seat, the booster car seat. Children who are between 4 to 8 years should be properly secured in the booster car seat. However, this rule is only applied to them if their height is at most 4 feet 9 inches.
- 8 years or above
Children over 8 years and whose height is more than 4 feet 9 inches are not required to sit on any child restraint device. They should wear only seatbelts while sitting in the car’s front seat.
2. Do adults have to wear a seatbelt in the back seat in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma requires all the passenger front on the seat, whether adult or child, including the driver, are only needed to use the seatbelt. However, those sitting in the back does not require to use the seatbelt while sitting.
3. When did Oklahoma require seat belts?
Wearing a seat belt is essential when driving anywhere, even on the streets or highways of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma seat belt law was designed to save people’s lives from traffic accidents. The seat belt law requires all the passengers sitting in front and the driver to use their seat belts. However, this law has a few exemptions, including the passengers sitting in the truck, tractors, pickups, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. This state is the only one in the whole U.S.A. which does not needs children above 8 and more to wear a seat belt while sitting in the backseat of a car or vehicle.
These laws are only implemented to provide safety for the child while driving. As per the reports from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, almost 67 children between the age group 8 and 17 were injured in the accident for not using their seat belts, and nearly 16 children were killed in the year 2017 in the state of Oklahoma.
4. How much is a no-seatbelt ticket in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma laws require only the front passenger and the driver to use the seat belt. However, if a person does not follow the law, they must pay a fine of $20 as a punishment for violating the law. But the penalty will increase with time for subsequently violating the rule. Moreover, 3 points are reduced from the license of the driver.
5. Do adults have to wear a seatbelt in the back seat in Oklahoma?
No adults are not required to wear a seatbelt while sitting in the backseat of a car in Oklahoma. But those sitting in the front seat must wear the seatbelt.
6. Are 2-point seat belts legal?
Yes, it’s legal to use the 2-point car seatbelts. However, most cars have a three-point belt because it provides more safety. Still, the middle and center rear car seats are equipped with a lap belt or two-point car seatbelts similar to the seatbelt in aircraft.
7. Do you have to wear a seatbelt in a truck in Oklahoma?
There are a few exceptions to the seat belt law of Oklahoma, which includes the transport vehicle such as the truck and many more.
8. Which is the only US state without mandatory adult seat belt law?
Oklahoma is the only state in the U.S. which does not require an adult to use a seat belt.
9. Do you have to wear a seatbelt in the back seat if you’re over 18 in Florida?
Whether you are above the age of 18 or you are older than 8, there is no need to wear a seatbelt.
About The Author
Hassan Zaka
I am an expert in accounting and have diverse experience in technical writing. I have written for various industries on finance, business, and technology. My writing style is clear and simple, and I use infographics and diagrams to make my writing engaging. I can benefit any organization needing technical writing services.
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