Montgomery County does not have its own car seat law. We follow   Maryland law which currently states that children must ride in a child restraint system until they are at least eight years old, unless they are 4'9" before their eighth birthday. Maryland law states that the child restraint has to be federally approved and used correctly. Booster seats are considered child restraints, as well as infant seats, convertible seats and forward-facing seats.

Most children are between 8 to 12 years old before they can safely ride in just a seat belt alone.  Click here to view PDF and find out if your child properly fits in a seat belt. When a child can safely ride with just a lap and shoulder belt depends on the vehicle. It is not uncommon for children to be able to ride safely in one family vehicle with the seat belt and not in another one.

Maryland's law does not state a child can't ride in the front seat (except for rear-facing infants in a car with active airbags-this is against instructions, very dangerous and illegal), however, it is strongly recommended by all safety experts that children ride in the back seat until they are teenagers. Age 13 and under should ride in the back seat. Children are 40% less likely to be seriously injured or killed in the back seat than the front seat.

Children should ride rear facing as long as possible, usually up to 24 months. Infant-only seats often are rated for use from 22 - 35 pounds depending on the car seat. Convertible seats can be used rear facing beginning at 4-5 pounds and up to 40 to 50 pounds depending on the car seat. The longer a child rides rear facing the safer they are.

Children should not ride in a booster seat until they are at least 40 pounds and behave well enough to sit still in a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt. Generally, children are 4 years old before they can ride in a booster seat.

With the available technicians, we can only schedule approximately 250 appointments each month. We make every effort to return your calls and meet your appointment needs as promptly as possible. We schedule appointments at least one weekday and one evening each week, as well as four Saturdays a month. Click here to view our current appointment schedule and to make an appointment. 

Our program wants to educate you about your car seat during your appointment. The more you have done ahead of time to prepare, the better your learning experience will be. We suggest that you try to read your car seat owner's manual and attempt to install your car seat before your appointment. Regardless of how your seat arrives, you will leave with a properly installed car seat and will know how to properly secure a child in it.

There is no charge for this service, and we want to keep it that way for everyone. The funding for this program is limited due to reduced grant funding and minimal staff, so if you wish to help the program purchase seats for families in need or inspection supplies, donations can be made and are always appreciated. You will receive information about how to donate in the packet of materials you receive at your appointment. All donations go directly towards program costs. Or you can contact the program manager at fire.carseatsafetyprogram@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

In order to become a certified technician, one must successfully complete a NHTSA standardized certification class that lasts three or four days. Contact the program manager at 240-777-2467 for information about upcoming classes in Montgomery County. Classes are held one to two times a year in Montgomery County and up to twelve times in Maryland.

MCFRS conducts car seat checks up to fourteen hours a week at four different locations. Due to limited availability of certified technicians, it is not usually possible to come to additional sites. However, please contact the program manager at 240-777-2467 if you have specific requests and we’ll make every accommodation to fulfill the request.

All car seats come with instruction manuals, as well as toll free numbers to reach the manufacturer. If you read and follow the instructions, you should be able to safely use the seat until our next available appointment. Most manufacturers also have instructional videos posted on their websites and offer video car seat appointments. MCFRS also offers video appointments. Click here to see the schedule and make a video appointment. Call the MCFRS car seat hotline number (240-777-2222) to find other locations in the area that check car seats.

It is important to read the weight and height requirements on your infant seat. Some infant seats are rated for use from 4 pounds and others require a child to be at least 5 pounds. If you are anticipating a smaller newborn, get one of the car seats rated for use starting at 4 pounds. Sometimes newborns have a medical need to lie flat. If this is the case, your physician will suggest using a car bed. MCFRS has a supply of car beds for loaner use when this is necessary.

• www.carseat.org
• www.safekids.org
• www.saferidenews.com
• www.nhtsa.gov features latest research, occupant protection laws in other states.
• https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls has latest recall list.
• https://www.safekids.org/coalition/safe-kids-maryland To find a car seat inspection station in another area.