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Alaska car seat laws

Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095 · Last checked September 23, 2026

Car seat stages

The statute text comes first. Numbers are a summary for comparison, not a replacement for the law.

Rear-facing seat

Statute text

A child less than one year of age or a child one year of age or older who weighs less than 20 pounds shall be properly secured in a rear-facing child safety seat that meets or exceeds standards of the United States Department of Transportation and is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

AS 28.05.095(b)(1).

What the law sets

Rear-facing seat required by law
Yes
Rear-facing until age
1 year
Rear-facing until weight
20 lb
Rear-facing until height
Not addressed in statute

Not set in AS 28.05.095(b)(1).

Leaving rear-facing
Every listed limit must be met

The rule covers a child under one OR a child of one or more who is under 20 pounds, so the child must be at least one AND at least 20 pounds to turn forward.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible — it's the best way to keep them safe — until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer.

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

All infants should ride rear-facing, starting with their first ride home from the hospital, and should continue riding rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat's manufacturer.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Forward-facing harness seat

Statute text

A child one or more years of age but less than four years of age who weighs 20 pounds or more shall be properly secured in a child restraint device that meets or exceeds the standards of the United States Department of Transportation and is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

AS 28.05.095(b)(2). The statute says "child restraint device"; it does not use the words forward-facing or harness.

What the law sets

Forward-facing harness required by law
Yes

A child restraint device meeting federal standards is required; the statute does not name a harness.

Harness until age
4 years
Harness until weight
Not addressed in statute

Not set in AS 28.05.095(b)(2) as an end point; 20 pounds is where this stage begins.

Harness until height
Not addressed in statute

Not set in AS 28.05.095(b)(2).

Leaving the harness
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

Age is the only end point in AS 28.05.095(b)(2): the stage runs to the fourth birthday.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, they are ready for a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. Keep the child in the forward-facing seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer, then move to a booster seat, still in the back seat.

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness after outgrowing the rear-facing weight or height limit. It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Booster seat

Statute text

A child over four years of age but less than eight years of age who is less than 57 inches in height and weighs 20 or more pounds but less than 65 pounds shall be properly secured in a booster seat that is secured by a seat belt system or by another child passenger restraint system that meets or exceeds the standards of the United States Department of Transportation and is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

AS 28.05.095(b)(3). A child over four who exceeds the height or weight limit in (b)(3) is secured in a seat belt instead (AS 28.05.095(b)(4)).

What the law sets

Booster required by law
Yes
Booster until age
8 years
Booster until weight
65 lb

The booster rule covers a child who weighs less than 65 pounds, so reaching 65 pounds ends it (AS 28.05.095(b)(4)).

Booster until height
57 in (4 ft 9 in)

The booster rule covers a child less than 57 inches tall, so reaching 57 inches ends it (AS 28.05.095(b)(4)).

Leaving the booster
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

A child leaves the booster on turning eight, on reaching 57 inches or on reaching 65 pounds, whichever comes first.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly — the lap belt lying snugly across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt snug across the shoulder and chest (not the neck or face).

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Seat belt

Statute text

A child over four years of age who exceeds the height or weight requirements in (3) of this subsection shall be properly secured in a seat belt. A child eight years of age but less than 16 years of age who does not exceed the height and weight requirements in (3) of this subsection shall be properly secured in a child safety device approved for a child of that size by the United States Department of Transportation or in a safety belt, whichever is appropriate for the particular child as determined solely by the driver.

AS 28.05.095(b)(4) and (b)(5).

What the law sets

Seat belt alone from age
8 years
Seat belt alone from height
57 in (4 ft 9 in)

A child over four who reaches 57 inches, or 65 pounds, moves to the seat belt under AS 28.05.095(b)(4).

Moving to the seat belt
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

The belt applies at eight, or earlier from age four once the child passes 57 inches or 65 pounds.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Once a child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, they can ride with just the lap-and-shoulder belt, but should still ride in the back seat — NHTSA recommends keeping children in the back seat at least through age 12.

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

Children should transition to the vehicle seat belt once it fits properly, typically at about 4 feet 9 inches in height and 8 to 12 years of age; all children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Front seat

Many states have no front-seat age in statute. Where that is the case, we say so and cite the section we read.

Front seat — statute text
Not addressed in statute

No front-seat provision in AS 28.05.095; the section sets no seating position and no air bag rule.

Minimum age for the front seat
Not addressed in statute

No front-seat provision in AS 28.05.095.

Conditions
Not addressed in statute

No front-seat provision in AS 28.05.095.

Penalties

What a car seat ticket costs, and whether showing proof of a proper seat can cancel it.

First offense — fine
Up to $50

AS 28.05.099(b): a violation of AS 28.05.095(b) is an infraction that may be fined up to $50.

Repeat offense — fine
Up to $50

AS 28.05.099 sets no separate repeat penalty; the same up-to-$50 infraction applies, but a repeat violator cannot have the citation dismissed on proof of purchase.

License points
Demerit points as set by department regulation

AS 28.05.099(b): a person convicted under AS 28.05.095(b) may be assessed demerit points as determined by regulations of the department, notwithstanding AS 28.15.231(b); no points are assessed when the citation is dismissed on proof of purchase.

Fine waiver
A driver who failed to provide a child safety device or safety belt may show a peace officer proof of purchase or acquisition and installation of an approved device within 30 days of the citation; the court then dismisses the citation and assesses no points, unless the person has a prior conviction, has forfeited bail on a prior citation, or has used this proof before (AS 28.05.099(b)).

Exemptions

Exempt means the statute excludes it. Silent means the statute does not address it.

Taxis
Not addressed in statute

AS 28.05.095(c) does not name taxicabs; the exceptions are school buses, emergency vehicles, mail and newspaper delivery, persons exempted by regulation, vehicles without belts and motorcycle-type vehicles.

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)
Not addressed in statute

AS 28.05.095(c) does not name transportation network companies or their drivers.

Buses
Exempt

AS 28.05.095(c)(1) excludes passengers in a school bus, unless the school bus is required to be equipped with seat belts by the United States Department of Transportation.

Medical exemption
Exempt

AS 28.05.095(c)(3) excludes a person or class of persons exempted by regulation under AS 28.05.096, which lets the commissioner of public safety exempt people for whom a belt or child safety device is impractical because of physical or medical conditions.

Out-of-state vehicles
Not addressed in statute

AS 28.05.095 does not address nonresident drivers or out-of-state vehicles.

How Alaska compares

Alaska is tied for 6th of 47 jurisdictions with a numeric booster age: 33 jurisdictions, including Alaska, require a booster until age 8.

Alaska shares no land border with another state, so no neighbor comparison applies.

Law compared with the AAP recommendation

  • Alaska law: a rear-facing seat is required until the child reaches age 1 and 20 lb. AAP recommends: All infants should ride rear-facing, starting with their first ride home from the hospital, and should continue riding rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat's manufacturer.
  • Alaska law: a forward-facing harness seat is required until the child reaches age 4. AAP recommends: Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness after outgrowing the rear-facing weight or height limit. It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age.
  • Alaska law: a booster seat is required until the child reaches age 8, 65 lb, or 57 in, whichever comes first. AAP recommends: All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.
  • Alaska law: a child may use the seat belt alone once reaching age 8 or 57 in, whichever comes first. AAP recommends: Children should transition to the vehicle seat belt once it fits properly, typically at about 4 feet 9 inches in height and 8 to 12 years of age; all children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.

See every state side by side on the comparison pages.

Guides covering Alaska

Sources

State law comes from the statute or state agency below. Recommendations come from NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The responsible agency is Alaska Highway Safety Office, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

State law

Recommendations

Disclaimer

This page summarizes Alaska law for reference. It is not legal or medical advice. The statute text is the law; the numbers are our summary of it. Legal minimums are not safety recommendations: NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping a child in each stage for as long as the seat allows. Check the statute or Alaska Highway Safety Office, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities before relying on anything here.