Colorado Child Passenger Safety Law
Parents and caregivers are responsible for properly restraining a child and will be ticketed if they fail to do so.
- All safety seats should be installed and fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle owner's manual
- Caregivers can be pulled over if their child is not properly restrained
- Caregivers can face additional charges if the law is not followed and the child is injured
Updates to Colorado Child Passenger Safety Laws
In June 2024, Gov. Jared Polis signed HB24-1055, a new bill that updates Colorado’s child passenger safety law. These updates reflect the latest research-based recommendations on car seat, booster seat and seat belt use for children. The updates, which become effective Jan. 1, 2025, will ensure that laws keep pace with evolving best practices for car seat and booster seat use. If you have any questions on the updates to the law, please email [email protected].
Fact sheets about updates to Colorado Child Passenger Safety Law in 15 different languages are available on the Multilingual Guides and Resources page. Download Colorado's Child Passenger Safety Law Card for more information.
- Required if child is under 2 years old and under 40 lbs
- Must go in the back seat if available
- Can stay rear-facing longer if the car seat allows
- Required if child is:
- Under 2 years old but over 40 lbs, OR
- 2–4 years old and over 20 lbs
- Must go in the back seat if available
- Can continue past age 4 if the car seat allows
- Required for kids 4–9 years old and at least 40 lbs
- Must go in the back seat if available
- Can continue past age 9 if needed
- For kids 9–18 years old
- Must fit properly in the seat belt