Arkansas Child Car Seat Laws

Arkansas has specific child car seat laws designed to protect young passengers during travel. These laws align with best practices recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and must be followed by all drivers transporting children under 15 years of age in any motor vehicle.

Car Seat Requirements by Age and Size

Arkansas law specifies the type of restraint system a child must use based on their age and size:

Infants (birth to 2 years): Must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old or reach the manufacturer’s height and weight limit for rear-facing use.
Toddlers (2 to 4 years): Should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they exceed the seat’s limits.
Young children (4 to 8 years): If under 4 feet 9 inches tall and weighing less than 60 pounds, they must be in a booster seat.
Children over 8 years or over 4’9” tall: May use a seat belt, but only if it fits properly—lap belt low on the hips and shoulder belt crossing the chest.

Proper use of these seats is critical. Misuse or using the wrong seat for a child’s size can lead to injuries in the event of a crash.

Arkansas Seat Belt Laws for Children

In addition to car seat regulations, Arkansas requires that all children under 15 be restrained, regardless of where they sit in the vehicle. Children aged 6 through 15 who exceed the size for booster seats must wear a seat belt at all times.

Failure to restrain a child appropriately can result in a fine of up to $100, plus court costs. Law enforcement officers are authorized to stop a vehicle solely for a suspected child restraint violation.

More on the general traffic rules that apply can be found in our Arkansas Traffic Laws Overview.

Installation and Safety Tips

Installing a child car seat correctly is as important as choosing the right one. Some helpful guidelines include:

Follow manufacturer instructions for installation and fit.
Ensure the car seat is tightly secured—it should not move more than an inch side-to-side or front-to-back.
The harness should be snug, with the chest clip at armpit level.
Rear-facing seats should be reclined properly to support an infant’s head and airway.

Arkansas drivers can schedule free inspections at various child safety seat inspection stations. These are typically offered by local health departments, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. A list of inspection sites is available from the Arkansas State Police.

Penalties and Enforcement

Violating Arkansas car seat laws is a primary offense, meaning law enforcement does not need any other reason to pull a driver over. First-time offenders typically face a fine, but the court may waive it if proof of acquisition of a proper child restraint system is provided.

Additional traffic violations can compound penalties. For example, driving without car insurance can lead to separate fines and suspensions. See Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Arkansas for more details.

When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat?

Arkansas law does not set a strict age limit for when a child can sit in the front seat. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in the back seat until at least age 13. The back seat is significantly safer, especially in vehicles equipped with passenger-side airbags that could injure a smaller passenger in a crash.

If a child must ride in the front seat:

Move the seat as far back as possible.
Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag.

Additional Resources

For more safety-related topics, check out:

Staying informed about Arkansas’s car seat laws helps protect your child and ensures compliance with the law every time you hit the road.