• Children younger than one year old or weighing less than 20 pounds must be properly secured in an approved rear-facing child passenger restraint system.
• Children between the ages of one and three weighing more than 20 pounds must be properly secured in an approved forward-facing child passenger restraint system.
• Children between the ages of four and eight and less than 4’9″ tall must be properly secured in an approved belt-positioning booster seat system.

Children exceeding these limits must follow the seat belt rules listed below.

If you’re in the market for one, you can shop online for a car seat at any time. When ordering, be sure the seat matches your child’s height, weight and age.

For more information on child safety seats, call (800) 99-BELTS, or one of the following regional child passenger safety centers:

• East Tennessee State University: (877) 267-4528
• Meharry Medical College: (615) 327-5900
• LeMoyne-Owen College: (901) 435-1536

Unattended Children

Knowingly leaving a child under the age of seven in a vehicle on public property without the supervision of someone who is at least 13 years old can be considered a Class B misdemeanor (with a $200 fine) if any of the following are true:

• The vehicle’s engine is running
• The child’s health or safety could be at risk
• The keys to the vehicle are inside the car