| Are you living in Maryland? Do you have | | | | seats, but also booster seats. The term |
| plans to drive around Maryland with your | | | | "federally approved" refers to those seats |
| baby? Before you go out and tour your baby | | | | that fit certain child's size, age and |
| around the state of Maryland, note first that | | | | weight. |
| just like the other places in the world, | | | | |
| Maryland has its own child safety seat laws. | | | | It is further worth noting that those who are |
| These laws are passed and maintained by the | | | | traveling with a vehicle that is registered |
| authority itself for every adult to comply so | | | | outside of the state are still subject to the |
| to avoid children's deaths and injuries | | | | rules set by the Maryland child safety seat |
| caused by car crashes. | | | | laws which apply to children aged younger |
| | | | than 4 years, regardless of weight and age. |
| The Maryland child safety seat laws have been | | | | In addition to this, it is maintained by the |
| around for years now. It was made effective | | | | Maryland child safety seat laws that an adult |
| on October 1, 2003 for people to follow the | | | | is not allowed to bring and transport a child |
| rules to maintain safety for children on the | | | | younger than 16 years of age unless the child |
| road. | | | | is secured in a child safety seat or on a |
| | | | seat belt. Children below this said age are |
| There is one main requirement covered under | | | | not even allowed to ride in an unenclosed |
| the Maryland child safety seat laws. The | | | | cargo bed of a pick up truck. |
| requirement states that all children younger | | | | |
| than six years old must be secured in a child | | | | If, for instance, a violation of the Maryland |
| safety seat that is approved by the federal | | | | child safety seat laws is noted, the vehicle |
| standards and installed according to the | | | | can be stopped and the driver issued a |
| safety seat and vehicle instructions of the | | | | citation for a violation. Along with this, |
| manufacturer. This requirement applies to | | | | the driver is required to pay a fine. At |
| all children of the said age regardless of | | | | present, drivers who bring children but |
| weight. | | | | failed to buckle up the child or allowed the |
| | | | child to ride in an unenclosed cargo pick up |
| Also, if a seven year old child weighs only | | | | truck bed are subject to pay $48 to $50 as |
| 37 pounds, or a 3 ½-year old child weighs | | | | fines for the violation of the Maryland child |
| 42 pounds, he or she would be required to use | | | | safety seat laws. |
| a federally approved child safety seat. It | | | | |
| is important to note that under the Maryland | | | | To avoid unfavorable consequences, don't |
| child safety seat laws, the term "child | | | | forget to buckle up your child in a federally |
| safety seat" includes not only the infant | | | | approved safety seat when traveling in |
| seats, convertible seat, and forward-facing | | | | Maryland. Conform to the rules. |