If you are raising kids in Providence, Warwick, or anywhere else in the Ocean State, understanding the Rhode Island law for booster seats keeps your child safe on the road. Here is what local parents need to know for 2026.
What Rhode Island Law Says About Booster Seats
Rhode Island child passenger safety rules fall under R.I.G.L. 31-22-22, a primary enforcement law. An officer can stop a vehicle solely because a child appears improperly restrained.
Age, Height, and Weight Rules
Any child younger than 8 who is under 57 inches tall and under 80 pounds must ride in the rear seat in an approved child restraint system. Once a child meets any one of those marks, a properly fitted seat belt may be used instead.
Booster Seat Stage
Children move into a booster seat once they outgrow their forward-facing harness, generally between ages 4 and 8. The booster raises a child so the lap and shoulder belt sits across the hips and chest, not the stomach and neck. Booster use lowers serious injury risk for kids ages 4 to 8 by roughly 45 percent versus a seat belt alone.
The Full Car Seat Progression in Rhode Island
Rear-Facing (Under Age 2)
Children under 2 years old, or under 30 pounds, must ride rear-facing.
Forward-Facing Harness
Once a child outgrows the rear-facing seat by height or weight, a forward-facing seat with a harness is required until the seat’s maximum limit is reached.
Booster Seat
After outgrowing the harness, children move to a booster seat, used with the lap and shoulder belt, until they pass the 57 inch or 80 pound threshold.
Seat Belt
Children who reach age 8, or who reach 57 inches or 80 pounds earlier, may use a seat belt alone in the rear seat.
Where Children Must Sit
Any child under 8 must ride in a rear seating position. Rhode Island also recommends the back seat until at least age 13 for added protection from front airbags.
Fines and Enforcement
Violating the child restraint requirement can require a court appearance. A child riding in the front seat, or a child 8 or older not wearing a seat belt, can bring a fine of $85. Rideshare vehicles are not exempt, so parents using Uber or Lyft should bring their own booster seat.
Free Car Seat Help for Rhode Island Families
Families in Providence can get a car seat checked at Hasbro Children’s Hospital or through Safe Kids Rhode Island. Local fire departments statewide also offer free inspections by certified technicians.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can a child stop using a booster seat in Rhode Island?
Once the child turns 8, or reaches 57 inches or 80 pounds, whichever comes first.
Is Rhode Island’s seat belt law primary or secondary?
It is a primary law, so an officer can stop a driver for a restraint violation alone.
Do taxis follow the same booster seat rules?
No, taxis are exempt from child restraint requirements, though rideshares are not.
Following the Rhode Island law for booster seats protects your child on every trip across the state.