Colorado law requires that children up to 15 years old riding in a motor vehicle be properly secured. Children under 8 years old must be restrained in the appropriate child restraint system. Older children must use a seat belt or a child restraint system. A child restraint system is defined as a seating system that meets federal motor vehicle standards which is permanently attached to a motor vehicle or its safety belt system and is designed to protect, hold, or restrain a child so as to prevent or minimize injury. The table below presents child restraint requirements by age and size of a child. Colorado Child Restraint Requirements Child Age/Size Statutory Requirement Less than 1 year and weighing less than 20 pounds Properly secured in a rear‑facing child restraint system in a rear seat of the vehicle 1 year to 4 years, and weighing 20 to 40 pounds Properly secured in a rear‑facing or forward‑facing child restraint system Children up to 8 years Properly secured in a child restraint system, such as a booster seat, according to the manufacturer's instructions 8 to 15 years Properly restrained in a safety belt or child restraint system according to manufacturer's instructions Source: Sections 42‑4‑236 and 42-4‑237, C.R.S. Child restraint requirements do not apply to a child who: is less than 8 years of age and is being transported in a motor vehicle as the result of a medical or other life‑threatening emergency and a child restraint system is not available; is being transported in a commercial motor vehicle that is operated by a child care center; or is being transported in a motor vehicle operated by, or on behalf of, a common carrier, contract carrier, or luxury limousine service. Violating Colorado's child restraint law is a primary enforcement action. This means a driver does not have to be stopped for another driving offense before he or she can be ticketed for not properly securing a child in the vehicle. A driver in violation of this law commits a Class B traffic infraction and is subject to a $65 fine and a $6 surcharge.
