South Dakota’s car seat laws are designed to keep children safe while riding in a vehicle. All children under the age of eight must be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat. Children who are eight years old or older, but less than sixteen years old, must be properly secured by a seat belt.
South Dakota’s car seat laws are designed to keep children safe while riding in a vehicle. All children under the age of 8 must be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. Children who are 8 years old or older, but less than 16 years old, must be properly secured in a seat belt.
There are a few exceptions to these rules. If a child is under the age of 4 and weighs 40 pounds or more, they may be restrained by an adult safety belt instead of a car seat. Additionally, if all of the following conditions are met, a child over the age of 4 may ride unrestrained in the backseat of a vehicle:
- The child is supervised by an adult who is seated in the front passenger seat.
- There is no other child under the age of 16 in the vehicle.
- The vehicle has lap and shoulder belts available for use by all occupants.
If you have any questions about South Dakota’s car seat laws or how to properly secure your child in a car seat or booster seat, please contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.

What are the Car Seat Laws in South Dakota?
South Dakota’s car seat laws are some of the most lenient in the country. Children under the age of four can ride in a car without a car seat, as long as they are wearing a seatbelt. After the age of four, children can continue to ride without a car seat, but must be secured by a seatbelt.
For children under the age of eight, South Dakota law requires that they ride in a booster seat. Booster seats must be used until the child is tall enough to use a regular seatbelt safely.
When Can My Child Ride Without a Booster Seat in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, a child can ride without a booster seat in the following situations:
- If they are over 4’9″ tall -If they are between 8 and 18 years old.
- If they weigh more than 80 lbs exceptions to this law.
For example, if a child is under the age of 8 or weighs less than 80 lbs, he or she must be properly restrained in a booster seat.
South dakota child seat laws
In South Dakota, child seat laws require that children under the age of 5 and weighing less than 40 pounds must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat. Older children who have outgrown their child safety seats must use a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Seat belts must be used by all passengers older than 8 years of age or taller than 4 feet 9 inches. These laws are in place to ensure the safety of children while traveling in vehicles.

Does My 7 Year Old Need a Car Seat?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all children under the age of 12 should ride in a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat, or a booster seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. So, does your 7 year old need a car seat? It depends on their height and weight.
If they are over 4’9” tall or weigh more than 80lbs, then they can use an adult safety belt in the backseat of the car. If they do not meet either of those criteria, then they should be using a booster seat. There are many different types of booster seats on the market, so it is important to do your research to find one that is right for your child and your vehicle.
You want to make sure that the booster seat is compatible with the type of car you have, and that it can be properly installed. You also want to consider the comfort of the booster seat. Some have high backs and some have low backs.
You want to make sure that your child will be comfortable sitting in the seat for long periods of time, as well as being able to see out the window easily. If you have any questions about choosing or installing a booster seat, you can always contact NHTSA or your local police department for assistance.
At What Age Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, children under the age of 12 are required to sit in the back seat. This is to help keep them safe in case of an accident.
If there is no back seat available, then they can sit in the front seat, but only if they are properly restrained with a seatbelt or carseat.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, a child can sit in the front seat of a car if they are:
- At least 5 years old
- Weighing at least 40 pounds
- Able to sit with their back against the seat and their feet touching the floor
- Wearing a seatbelt that is properly fastened.
If your child does not meet all of these criteria, they must ride in the backseat.

South Dakota Rear-Facing Car Seat Laws
As of July 1, 2020, all children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat in South Dakota. This is an update to the state’s previous law, which only required rear-facing seats for infants under 1 year old. Experts say that rear-facing car seats are the safest option for young children, as they protect the head, neck and spine in a crash better than forward-facing seats.
The new law will help ensure that more children are properly secured while riding in a vehicle. If you have any questions about car seat safety or the new law, please contact your local police department or the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
North Dakota Car Seat Laws 2022
The North Dakota car seat laws for 2022 have been updated and are now in effect. All drivers must ensure that all passengers under the age of 16 are properly secured in an approved child safety seat or booster seat. The driver is responsible for ensuring that the child safety seat or booster seat is properly installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Drivers who violate the North Dakota car seat laws will be subject to a fine of up to $100.00. If you have any questions about the North Dakota car seat laws, please contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.
Is It Illegal to Have a Carseat in the Front Seat?
According to most car seat safety guidelines, children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old. After that, they can graduate to a forward-facing car seat with a harness. Once your child reaches the height and weight limits for their forward-facing car seat (usually around 40 pounds), they can then use a belt positioning booster seat.
Finally, once they are big enough (usually 4 feet 9 inches tall and between 8 and 12 years old), they can use a regular adult seat belt. So what does this mean for where your child’s car seat should be located? The general consensus is that the safest spot for any car seat is in the middle of the backseat.
If you have more than one child in car seats, it’s best to put the smaller child in a rear-facing seat in the middle position and then put the larger child in a forward-facing seat on either side. If your vehicle only has two seats in the back (like many SUVs), it’s still safest to put both car seats behind the front seats. And if you have an older vehicle without adjustable headrests or LATCH anchors, you can install an aftermarket product like The RideSafer Travel Vest which provides similar protection to that of a five-point harness system.

There are some exceptions to these general rules, however. For example, if your vehicle has airbags in the front passenger seat, it’s not safe to put a rear-facing car seat there because airbags deploy with great force and could seriously injure or even kill a small child riding backwards. In this case, it would be better to place the rear-facing seat behind the driver’s seat instead.
Another exception is if you have three children who all need to be restrained in car seats. In this case, it may be necessary to put one of them in the front passenger seat with an appropriate restraint system for their age and size (such as The RideSafer Delight). Ultimately, whether or not it’s legal for your child to ride upfront with you will depend on your state laws – so be sure to check those before making any decisions about seating arrangements!
South Dakota Car Seat Laws 2022 | Child Safety Seat Laws
How Should a Seat Belt Fit a Child?
Most car seats these days come with some form of a 5-point harness, which helps to keep your child restrained and secure in their seat. But how do you know if the seat belt is fitted correctly? Here are some tips on how a seat belt should fit a child:
The shoulder strap should come across the chest and rest between the neck and shoulder. It shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. The lap belt should fit snugly across the hips and upper thighs.
Again, it shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. If you have a adjustable headrest, make sure that it is positioned so that the top of the headrest is at or just below your child’s ear level. This will help to protect their head and neck in case of a collision.
Booster Seat Guidelines
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), booster seats are an important part of keeping kids safe in the car. Booster seats help lift kids up so that seat belts fit properly across their chest and hips. The CDC recommends that kids use a booster seat from the time they outgrow their forward-facing car seat with a harness (usually when they’re 4 to 8 years old and 40 to 80 pounds) until they’re big enough to wear a seat belt safely.
That means most kids will need a booster seat from ages 4 to 10. There are two types of booster seats: backless and high-back. Backless boosters are less expensive, but some experts say high-backs offer more protection for your child’s head and neck in case of a crash.
The bottom line is that any type of booster seat is better than no booster seat at all. If you have questions about which type of booster is right for your child, talk to your pediatrician or make an appointment with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).
Sdcl Child Restraint
As of July 1, 2019, all South Dakota children under the age of 5 must be properly secured in an approved child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle. Children ages 5 and under are at a higher risk for serious injury or death in a crash, so it is important to make sure they are properly restrained. There are many different types of child restraints available, so it is important to choose one that is appropriate for your child’s age and size.
For infants and toddlers, a rear-facing car seat is the best option. Once your child outgrows their rear-facing car seat, they can move to a forward-facing car seat with a harness. Finally, once they outgrow their forward-facing car seat with a harness, they can use a belt positioning booster seat until they are big enough to use an adult safety belt correctly.
It is also important to make sure that the child restraint is installed correctly in the vehicle. If you need help installing your child’s car seat, you can contact your local police department or fire department for assistance.
Is It Illegal to Smoke in a Car With a Child in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, it is illegal to smoke in a car with a child under the age of 18. This law was enacted to protect children from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke exposure is particularly dangerous for children, who are more susceptible to its health effects than adults.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause respiratory problems, ear infections, and asthmatic attacks in children. In some cases, it can even lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The best way to protect your child from the dangers of secondhand smoke is to avoid smoking in enclosed spaces where they will be exposed to it.

Conclusion
If you’re a parent in South Dakota, it’s important to know the state’s car seat laws. All children under the age of 5 must be properly restrained in an approved car seat or booster seat. Children under the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat.
And all children under the age of 18 must wear a seatbelt. So, what are the penalties for violating South Dakota’s car seat laws? If you’re caught driving without a child properly restrained, you could be fined up to $25.
And if you’re involved in an accident and a child is injured because they weren’t properly restrained, you could be liable for up to $500 in damages. So, make sure you understand South Dakota’s car seat laws and always buckle up your kids!