The law in Alaska requires everyone who is occupying a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt. Seat belt laws are founded in common sense, and in place to protect drivers and their passengers. Drivers have a special duty of care to young passengers, and are required to make sure that anyone up to the age of 16 is properly restrained in a vehicle.
Summary of Alaska’s child seat safety laws
The child seat safety laws in Alaska can be summarized as follows:
Passengers between the ages of 4 and 16 must wear either a seat belt or a federally-approved child restraining device.
No one under the age of 16 can be transported in a motor vehicle unless each child is properly secured.
Children who are under the age of 1 year, or who weigh under 20 pounds, must be placed in a rear-facing child seat that meets the United States Department of Transportation standards, and is installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
If a child is one or older, but under five, and weighs at least 20 pounds, then he or she must be placed in a child seat that meets the United States Department of Transportation standards, and is installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
If a child is over four, but under eight, and under 57 inches tall, and weighs at least 20 pounds but under 65 pounds, then he or she must be placed in a booster seat, or secured by a restraint system that meets the United States Department of Transportation standards and is installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
If a child is over the age of four, and 65 pounds or over, and 57 inches or taller, he or she may be secured using a seat belt.
A child over the age of eight, but under 16, who does not exceed the height and weight regulations stated above can be secured by a child safety device, or a seat belt.
Penalties
If you violate the child seat safety laws in Alaska, you can be fined $50 and have 2 demerit points assigned to your driver license. Don’t risk your safety and that of your young passengers. Buckle up, and obey the child seat safety laws.
