Mississippi requires all motor vehicle passengers and drivers to be properly secured. A seatbelt is sufficient for most passengers, but children are subject to special requirements. The requirements for child safety seats vary depending on the child's age, weight, and height.
Below you'll find more details on these requirements, as well as the penalties for a child seat or seatbelt violation.
Mississippi's child safety requirements apply to all children under the age of seven.
Children under four years old must use a properly installed child passenger restraint device or system. For children of this age, a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat is typically the proper restraint.
A child who's at least four but less than seven years old generally must use a shoulder seatbelt positioning device (booster seat).
A child who's at least 65 pounds or at least four feet, nine-inches tall is not required to use a booster seat. The use of a booster seat is also excused if all shoulder belts are being used by other children.
A child restraint or seatbelt violation will result in a maximum $25 fine. However, violations will not go on the violator's driving record.
The requirements listed above are the bare minimum to comply with the law, but the Mississippi State Department of Health has issued non-mandatory car seat recommendations based on best safety practices.
|
Birth |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13+ |
|
Rear-facing |
|||||||||||||
|
Forward-facing |
|||||||||||||
|
Booster (Rear Seat) |
|||||||||||||
|
Seat Belt (Rear Seat) |
|||||||||||||
|
Seat Belt |
|||||||||||||
Certain vehicles. Many vehicles are exempt from the seatbelt and child restraint requirements, including registered farm vehicles and buses. Rural mail carriers and meter readers are also exempt.
Medical reasons. A child who cannot wear a restraint due to medical reasons is exempt but must carry written verification from a licensed physician.
For more information about child restraint systems, check the recommendations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It's also a good idea to register your car seat to be notified regarding recalls.