Education

Child Safety Seats

Child Safety Seat checks can be scheduled through the North Liberty Police Department at 626-5724, the Iowa City Fire Department Station #4 at 356-5264, or Mercy On-Call at 358-2767

Iowa Child Passenger Safety Seat Laws

(Effective December 2023)

  • 1a) A child under one year of age and weighing less than twenty pounds who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit in a rear-facing child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions..
  • 1b) A child under six years of age who does not meet the description in paragraph “a” and who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • 2) A child at least six years of age but under eighteen years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or by a safety belt or safety harness of a type approved under section 321.445.
  • 3) This section does not apply to the following:
  • a. Peace officers acting on official duty.
  • b. The transportation of children in 1965 model year or older vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, buses, or motor homes or motorsports recreational vehicles, except when a child is transported in a motor home’s or motorsports recreational vehicle’s passenger seat situated directly to the driver’s right.
  • c. The transportation of a child who has been certified by a physician licensed under chapter 148 or a physician assistant licensed under chapter 148C as having a medical, physical, or mental condition that prevents or makes inadvisable securing the child in a child restraint system, safety belt, or safety harness.
  • d. A back seat occupant of a motor vehicle for whom no safety belt is available because all safety belts are being used by other occupants or cannot be used due to the use of a child restraint system in the seating position for which a belt is provided.

Common Child Safety Seat Misuses!

About 90% of installed car seats have at least one misuse, how about your Car Seat? Check Below.

  • Is Your Car Seat on the Recall List? (Click Here)
  • Is Your Child in the Right Car Seat? (Click Here)
  • Seat installed too loose
  • Improper seating position (in front of an air bag)
  • Not buckling child into restraint
  • Not securely anchoring the child restraint to the vehicle
  • Improper seat for child’s age and size
  • Infant riding forward facing
  • Harness retainer clip not at armpit level
  • Loose harness strap