Colorado completely overhauled its child passenger safety law in 2025 — and if you’re still going by the old rules, you’re probably out of compliance. House Bill 24-1055, signed by Governor Polis and effective January 1, 2025, extended booster seat requirements, added a mandatory back-seat rule for children under 9, and brought Colorado’s statute in line with current AAP best practices for the first time. I’ve worked with families across the Front Range and Western Slope who were caught off guard by the changes, especially the new requirement that children stay in a child restraint until age 9 rather than the old cutoff of 8.
Colorado recorded 701 traffic fatalities in 2025, up from 689 in 2024 — a reversal of the positive trend seen in recent years. Motorcyclist deaths surged 167% year over year, and the top crash factors remain impairment, speed, and distracted driving. With nearly 130,000 crashes annually on Colorado roads, child passenger safety is critical whether you’re commuting on I-25 or driving mountain passes.
This guide breaks down every requirement in Colorado’s updated child passenger safety law, explains the fines and enforcement rules, covers special situations, and answers the most common questions parents ask.
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Colorado car seat laws by age
Colorado’s child restraint statute (C.R.S. § 42-4-236), as updated by HB24-1055 effective January 1, 2025, requires all children through age 15 to be properly restrained. Here’s how the requirements break down:
Rear-facing (under age 2 or under 20 lbs): Children under 2 years old or weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat. The AAP recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as the seat’s height and weight limits allow — most modern convertible seats rear-face to 40–50 pounds, well beyond the legal minimum.
Forward-facing with harness (ages 2–4 or 20–40 lbs): Children who have outgrown the rear-facing requirements and weigh between 20 and 40 pounds must be in a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness. Best practice is to keep children harnessed until they exceed the seat’s weight and height limits (typically 40–65 pounds).
Booster seat (ages 4–9 or 40+ lbs): Children between ages 4 and 9 who weigh at least 40 pounds must ride in a booster seat or child restraint system in the back seat of the vehicle. This is one of the key changes from HB24-1055 — the previous cutoff was age 8. The booster ensures the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly across the child’s chest and hips.
Seat belt (ages 9–18): Children ages 9 through 18 must wear a seat belt. Colorado’s updated law extended the mandatory restraint requirement through age 15 (previously it was through age 15 as well, but the booster/back-seat requirements were lower).
Back seat requirement (under age 9): Children under 9 must ride in the back seat if a back seat is available. This is a new legal requirement under HB24-1055 and is now enforceable, not just a recommendation.
Front seat/airbag safety: No child in a rear-facing car seat should ever be placed in front of an active passenger-side airbag. Children under 13 should ride in the back seat whenever possible.
If you’re not sure which seat fits your child’s current stage, our best-rated convertible car seats guide covers every transition from rear-facing infant through booster-ready child.
Fines and enforcement
Violating Colorado’s child restraint law is classified as a Class B traffic infraction:
Fine: $65 plus a $6 surcharge, totaling $71 per violation.
Fine waiver: The court may waive the fine if you provide satisfactory evidence that you’ve acquired or purchased a compliant child restraint system by your court date.
Colorado’s child restraint law is a primary enforcement law — an officer can pull you over solely for observing an improperly restrained child. You don’t need to be committing another traffic violation first.
No points are assessed on your driver’s license for a child restraint violation, but failure to pay fines can lead to driver’s license suspension.
Special situations
Taxis: Colorado does not explicitly exempt taxis from child restraint requirements. The safest approach is always to use a car seat when traveling with a child, regardless of vehicle type.
Rideshares (Uber/Lyft): Child restraint laws apply in full to rideshare vehicles. If you’re traveling with a child, bring an appropriate car seat. Some rideshare services offer car-seat-equipped vehicles in the Denver metro area.
Vehicles without back seats: If the vehicle has no rear seat (such as a pickup truck with a single cab), the child may ride in the front seat with an appropriate restraint — but never in front of an active airbag in a rear-facing seat.
Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle: Colorado law (C.R.S. § 18-6-501) addresses child endangerment broadly. While there’s no specific statute setting a minimum age for leaving a child alone in a vehicle, doing so can result in child abuse or neglect charges if the child is placed at risk — especially given Colorado’s extreme temperature swings.
Smoking in a vehicle with children: Colorado does not have a specific law prohibiting smoking in a vehicle with child passengers.
Car seat replacement after a crash: No state law requires it, but NHTSA and all major manufacturers recommend replacing any seat involved in a moderate-to-severe crash.
What to do if you get a ticket
1. Get the correct car seat. Colorado allows the fine to be waived if you demonstrate compliance by your court date — so act quickly.
2. Get it inspected. Have a certified CPS technician verify your installation. Colorado has an active network of inspection stations, particularly along the Front Range. Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora offers regular car seat checks. You can also use the NHTSA technician locator.
3. Bring proof to court. A receipt for the new seat and documentation of a proper installation check can help get the fine waived.
If you need a free or low-cost car seat, check our guide to free car seats in Colorado for verified programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can my child sit in the front seat in Colorado?
Under Colorado’s updated law, children under 9 must ride in the back seat if one is available. Safety experts recommend all children under 13 ride in the back. There’s no specific legal age for front-seat riding beyond the under-9 back-seat mandate, but any child in a rear-facing seat must never be placed in front of an active airbag.
What is the fine for a car seat violation in Colorado?
The fine is $65 plus a $6 surcharge ($71 total). The court may waive the fine if you show proof of acquiring a compliant child restraint by your court date. No points are added to your license.
What changed in Colorado’s car seat law in 2025?
HB24-1055 made several major updates effective January 1, 2025: children must now stay in a booster or child restraint until age 9 (previously 8), children under 9 must ride in the back seat, and the law better aligns with current AAP recommendations for each stage of child restraint use.
Does Colorado require rear-facing until age 2?
Yes — Colorado’s updated law requires rear-facing for children under 2 or under 20 pounds. The AAP recommends rear-facing as long as the seat allows, typically to age 2–4. Our best-rated convertible car seats guide includes seats that rear-face up to 40–50 pounds.
Can I use a secondhand car seat in Colorado?
Colorado doesn’t prohibit used car seats, but verify the seat hasn’t been in a crash, isn’t expired, isn’t recalled, and has all original parts. Check the NHTSA recall database before using any secondhand seat. Our guide on what to do with old car seats covers safe disposal options.
Where can I get my car seat inspected in Colorado?
Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora offers regular car seat inspection events. Safe Kids Colorado coalitions across the Front Range, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction also hold frequent check events. Fire stations in many Colorado communities offer inspections by appointment. Find a certified CPS technician near you through NHTSA’s locator.
