Remember when you were a kid and anywhere in the car was a good spot? Even all the way in the back of the station wagon or on the floor in the back seat was just fine. Those days are long gone, and now Connecticut has new child seat belt laws that go into effect starting October 1.

In order to increase the safety of your child while he or she is riding in the car, the Connecticut Legislature has passed some of the strictest child seat belt laws to date. According to safeinthecar.com, here's a look at the new child seat belt rules:

  • Children must remain rear-facing until they reach age 2 and until they weigh 30 pounds.
  • Children must be in a 5-point harness until they reach age 5 and until they weigh 40 pounds.
  • Children must be in a booster seat until they reach age 8 and must weigh 60 pounds.
  • Children between ages 8-12 must stay in a booster seat until they pass the 5-step test to qualify to use a regular seat belt.
  • Children 13 and over can use a standard car seat belt and can sit anywhere in the car.
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The 5 step test that was mentioned includes questions you have to answer before he or she can use the regular car seat belt.

  1. Can your child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
  2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
  3. Can the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
  4.  Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
  5.  Is it possible for the child to stay seated like this for the whole trip?

All these laws go into effect on Sunday, October 1, and will be strictly enforced.

Mr. Morning Had Some Fun Chatting With Cassadee Pope in Danbury:

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