Roadwise States Rhode Island Driving lessons Seat Belt & Child Restraint Law Rhode Island driving lesson · Basic Driving Skills & Safety Rules
Seat Belt & Child Restraint Law A 4-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 4 minutes
Course unit Basic Driving Skills & Safety Rules
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 26, 27 Buckling up is the law for everyone in the car, and Rhode Island enforces it as a primary law: police can pull you over just because someone is unbuckled. As the driver, you're responsible for every passenger—and for putting kids in the right seat.
Know the rule
Rhode Island's seat belt law is a primary law for all ages—you can be pulled over if anyone in the vehicle is unbuckled.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
The driver must wear a safety belt, and must make sure every passenger 18 or older, in any seat, is properly wearing one (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208).
Handbook p. 26 ↗ $40 Seat belt fine per unbelted occupant—the driver is responsible
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
A child under 8 who is under 57 inches AND under 80 pounds must ride in a rear seat in a federally approved child restraint (Federal Standard 213).
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
A child under 8 who is at least 57 inches tall or at least 80 pounds must wear a safety belt in a rear seat.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Children 8 through 17 must wear a safety belt in any seat, and any driver under 18 must wear one.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ A child under 8 may ride outside the back seat only if: The vehicle has no back seat (pickup truck, sports car, etc.) All rear seats are already used by other children In that case, the oldest child should ride in front if there is a passenger airbag Handbook p. 26 ↗ $85 Fine for a child in the front seat, or a child over 7 not properly restrained; no child restraint = mandatory court appearance
Handbook p. 27 ↗ Know the rule
A child still under 2 and under 30 pounds must stay rear-facing; keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible is recommended.
Handbook p. 27 ↗ Know the rule
A lap/shoulder belt fits properly on the upper thighs across the hip bones and across the middle of the chest.
Handbook p. 27 ↗ Five-step belt fit test (if the child isn't in a booster): Is the lower back all the way against the vehicle seat? Do the knees bend at the edge of the seat? Does the shoulder belt cross the collar bone and center of the chest? Is the lap belt on the upper thighs across the hip bones? Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip? Handbook p. 27 ↗ Know the rule
Most children need a booster seat from about age 4 until at least between ages 8 and 12.
Handbook p. 27 ↗ Put it into practice
You're driving your 6-year-old cousin, who is 48 inches and 50 pounds. She's under 8, under 57 inches and under 80 pounds, so she rides in the back seat in a booster or harness. Putting her up front could cost $85.
A useful reminder Under 8 + under 57 inches + under 80 pounds = child restraint in the back seat. Hit 57 inches OR 80 pounds = belt in the back seat.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Is Rhode Island's seat belt law a primary or secondary law? Secondary law for all ages Primary law for all ages Primary only for drivers under 18 Primary only for front-seat occupants Answer: Primary law for all ages
The Seat Belt Use Law is a primary law, meaning you can be pulled over if anyone in the vehicle is unbuckled.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Under RIGL 31-22-22 (f) and (g), what is the fine per occupant for not wearing a safety belt? $75.00 $100.00 $40.00 $25.00 Answer: $40.00
The fine for a seat belt violation is $40.00 per occupant.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ What is the fine for a child riding in the front seat or not in a required child restraint system? $40.00 $150.00 $250.00 $85.00 Answer: $85.00
The fine for a child riding in the front seat improperly, or a child over 7 not in a restraint system, is $85.00.
Handbook p. 27 ↗ Which children must ride in the back seat, properly restrained, under Rhode Island's child restraint law? Children under 8, under 57 inches, and under 80 pounds Children under 5 only Children under 12 regardless of size Only infants under 1 year old Answer: Children under 8, under 57 inches, and under 80 pounds
Children under 8 years old, less than 57 inches tall and less than 80 pounds must be restrained in the rear seat.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Under what circumstance may a child under 8 legally ride in the front seat? When the trip is shorter than five miles When all rear seats are used by other children When the front passenger airbag has been switched off Only if the child restraint is rear-facing Answer: When all rear seats are used by other children
Exceptions allow a child under 8 in front if the vehicle has no back seat or all rear positions are occupied by other children.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ At minimum, what age or weight should a toddler reach before moving to a forward-facing convertible car seat? 1 year old or 20 pounds 3 years old or 40 pounds 2 years old or 30 pounds 18 months or 25 pounds Answer: 2 years old or 30 pounds
A child should be at least 2 years old or 30 pounds before moving to a forward-facing convertible car seat.
Handbook p. 27 ↗ Previous lesson Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Next lesson Before You Drive & Stopping Distance More in Basic Driving Skills & Safety Rules About the source Roadwise’s Rhode Island course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 26, 27. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Rhode Island’s DMV. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.