Child Passenger Safety & Education

The act changes the child restraint system requirements in existing law as follows: Increases the age at which children are required to use a child restraint system from under 8 years of age to under 9 years of age; Increases the age, from under one year of age to under 2 years of age, and the weight, from under 20 pounds to under 40 pounds, of children who must be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system in a rear seat of the vehicle; Requires that children who are under 2 years of age but over 40 pounds in weight be restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing restraint system; Increases the age, from one year of age or older to 2 years of age or older but less than 4 years of age, of children who must be restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint system, depending on the child's weight, in a rear seat of the vehicle, if a rear seat is available; Adds a requirement that children who are at least 4 years of age but under 9 years of age and who weigh at least 40 pounds use a child restraint system or booster seat, which must be situated in a rear seat of the vehicle, if a rear seat is available; and Increases the age at which children must be restrained in a safety belt or child restraint system from under 16 years of age to under 18 years of age. The act requires the division of highway safety to use existing national highway traffic safety administration occupant protection grant funds to implement a program for public information and education concerning updates to child restraint system requirements, the use of child restraint systems, and Colorado law regarding child restraint system. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)