(COLO) – Lifelong habits begin early, so the Colorado State Patrol urges parents to become familiar with Colorado’s Child Restraint and Graduated Drivers' Licensing law regarding seat belts.
“It is a primary offense for children under 18 to be without a seatbelt or improperly restrained in a vehicle,” explains Trooper Kent Trimbach, Colorado Child Passenger Safety Program Coordinator. “This means you can be pulled over without committing any other traffic infraction because the bottom line is, kids are relying on you!”
In addition, teen drivers can also be pulled over if they or any of their passengers are seen without a seatbelt. In 2024, the Colorado State Patrol issued 976 seat belt citations to drivers aged 16-21.
“We can’t promise that you’ll never argue about seat belts as your child turns into a driver, but the odds are in your favor if your family consistently uses seat belts from day one,” stated Trooper Trimbach, Colorado State Patrol. “Make it a rule that the car doesn’t move until all belts are on.”
COLORADO’S SEAT BELT LAWS FOR YOUTH
- Teens— Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law requires all drivers under 18 and their passengers, regardless of age, to be properly restrained. This is a primary enforcement, meaning teens can be pulled over simply for not wearing a seat belt or having passengers without seat belts.
- Children— Colorado's Child Passenger Safety law is a primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees an unrestrained or improperly restrained child under the age of 18 in the vehicle.
Colorado's child restraint law requires children 17 years old and younger riding in a vehicle to be properly restrained regardless of seating position. 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 2 years of age and weighing less than 40 pounds | Properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system in the rear seat of the vehicle |
Less than 1 year to 2 years, and weighing over 40 pounds 2 years and up to 4 years, and at least 20 pounds | Must be in the back seat if one is available, can be in a forward-facing child restraint system or rear-facing child restraint system. |
At least 4 years and over 40 pounds. Children up to 9 years | Must be in the back seat if one is available, properly secured in a child restraint system, such as a booster seat, according to the manufacturer's instructions |
9 to 18 years | Properly restrained in a safety belt or a child restraint. |
Source: Sections 42‑4‑236 and 42-4‑237, C.R.S. | |
Every drive or ride should start with a click! If wearing a seat belt is all your child or young driver has ever known, you have increased your child’s chances of survival by 65% in the event of a crash. Nice work, Mom and Dad!
The Colorado State Patrol is launching a multi-month RU Clicking campaign to increase awareness and use of seat belts across Colorado. This campaign targets the youngest and newest drivers to close the gap between the 92% national seat belt use rate and Colorado’s 88% seat belt use rate. Buckle Like a Boss.
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ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE PATROL
Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the Governor and other dignitaries’ protection, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more. For additional information, visit us online at Colorado State Patrol or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook.