Montana Car Seat Laws and All You Need to Know 2022

Your children mean a world to you.

Mainly, you want to protect them and keep them safe while on the road.

That's why you put them in an appropriate car seat and additional equipment.

Many parents find the proper car seat installation tiresome and cumbersome, so they face various difficulties until they install and place them correctly.

Also, our kids might not like them.

But using the seats will not only keep your kiddos safe on journeys but will also prevent you from violating the Montana car seat laws

Moreover, the current databases indicate that only 69.1% of passengers use and wear seat belts during the rides. 

It's high time we stopped this!

Therefore, we need to learn how we can contribute to the current situation!

Montana Car Seat Safety Law

montana booster seat laws 2022

Montana car seat safety law requires that every child who is six years old or younger and weighs less than sixty pounds must use an appropriate safety car seat.

Of course, the car seats must be per the manufacturer's recommendations, guidelines, and approvals.

There are four various ways to obtain and place your children into appropriate car seats.

It's imperative to select the car seats according to your children's needs, growth, and height, by following the producer's instructions.

Also, you might find vital how the particular seat fits your car since some might be larger than others, so you should try them before you select those car seats, as you might have installation problems, and your children won't feel secure.

1. Montana Car Seat Safety Law for Newborns

If you have an infant baby or a child between zero and two years old, the safety law states that you should place him/her in a convenient infant rear-facing seat.

Moreover, these seats should be in the back seat of your motor vehicle.

Thus, in the car crash case, the car seat will best protect them from highly possible injuries and other problems following the car crashes.

If they outgrow these car seats, children should use the next-level car seats.

2. Montana Car Seat Safety Law for Two-to-five-years-old Children

montana booster seat regulations

As we have previously said, when your children outgrow the rear-facing car seats, it's time for you to place them into different ones.

Here, we talk about forward-facing car seats.

Children must be between two and five years old to use these seats and appropriate development and growth.

You can find various types of convertible car seats currently on the market.

Thus, there are different forward-facing car seats only, substitutable, or combination car seats.

Your children should remain in these seats until they outgrow the manufacturer's prescriptions and recommendations.

The reason is that these seats offer maximum stability and reliability even in the case of a car collision.

The children remain untouched.

3. Montana Car Seat Safety Laws for Five-to-eight Years Old Kiddos

Once your children have outgrown the forward-facing car seats, it's time to start using booster car seats.

This is possible when your children are between five and eight years old.

The manufacturers propose that children stay in these car seats until they are four feet nine inches tall.

This height usually occurs when children are between eight and twelve years old.

Most importantly, the children should use both, the shoulder and lap belts, never only the lap one. 

When Can We Place Our Little Ones in the Front Car Seat?

The Montana safety car seat law 2022 states that all children younger than thirteen should sit in the car's back seat with an appropriate seat belt system.

When they're older, they can sit in the front, next to the driver.

Can I Leave My Kid Unattended in the Car in Montana?

montana child car seat laws

Although no strict laws prohibit leaving children alone without any supervision, there is a high possibility that parents/caregivers can get convicted if the children get hurt due to their negligent behavior.

Am I Committing a Crime if I Smoke in a Car With a Kid/Kids?

Currently, there are NO safety car seat laws for children passengers that would accuse you of smoking in the car with a child/children.

But, as parents, you should pay much attention to this action since tobacco will not only harm your health but your children as well.

Therefore, you should think twice before you light up the cigarette.

Should Taxis Undergo the Car Seat Safety Law in Montana?

Nowadays, you cannot find real information about whether the taxi companies should obey the regulations simply because Montana's state is not very clear concerning this question.

However, if parents are indecisive about using a cab since they may have problems with the driver, they can check the Uber application and see their policy about car seats.

Or they can contact rent-a-car companies and see what cars with car seats are available and if they can use them.

Car Seat Replacements After the Accidents in Montana

montana child seat belt laws

The safety car seat law proposes that if you had a car crash since they happen all the time, you must replace the old car seat with a new one.

Why is this important?

First of all, the seat might be damaged in ways that you cannot see.

If there is a plastic part, it may contain the fractures.

The manufacturers and safety technicians and instructors say that you must use another car seat, primarily if a second car collision occurs. 

But, you have to replace the car seats in a case it expires after six years, as the producers recommend.

If you are not sure how to replace them, call the manufacturer or safety instructors/technicians to help you.

Montana Personal Injury Attorney

If you suffered an injury or pain due to a car collision and want compensation for your pain and suffering, you can contact an official person or a group of people who can aid you solve your problems and get your reward.

Montana personal injury lawyers are dedicated and focused on making their customers happy and satisfied; therefore, the attorneys will do all that is in their power to help you solve your issues.

You can contact them on (406)-306-0519, contact them via an email at [email protected], and see your best options. 

Final Thoughts - Conclusion

Let's wrap it up: you see various Montana car seat laws that you should obey and follow if you want to keep your children safe and protect them on the road. 

The only way to do so is to use one of four types of child restraint systems - three types of car seats and a set belt system.

If you don't take care of your little ones, who will? And if you don't reduce the car crashes, who will?

I hope the article helped you learn more about the current safety laws, and if you have any questions regarding these issues or if something remained unclear, please let me know via email, and I'll gladly help you solve them!

Avatar of Kathy Warner

Kathy Warner

Kathy is a busy mother of two and a CPS technician for more than eight years. Her mission is to awaken parents to the importance of child passenger safety and show them the right practice. You can read more about her here

4 thoughts on “Montana Car Seat Laws and All You Need to Know 2022”

  1. Hi. I am writing from Montana. I am wondering if the language stating a child should ride in the back until the age of 13 is a recommendation or requirement?

    Reply

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