In an attempt to improve child safety and eliminate some loopholes in Montana’s car seat laws, a new code went into effect Wednesday.

Lincoln County Health Department official Sarah Long shared some information about the new directives.

“Previously the law was that a child must be “reasonably restrained” which left a lot of wiggle room for unsafe practices and potential injury,” Long said. “Now which car seats children need to be in is delineated by age.”

The county Health Department is hosting a free car seat check up event at Fireman’s Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. Local Child and Passenger Safety Technicians are teaming up with Northwest Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance and Safe start to host a car seat check up event. There will be free car seats and safe sleep material available.

To make an appointment, go to safestartnw.org or text CHECK to 844-619-2048.

The law did not change any penalties.

- Children ages 0-2 must be in a rear facing car seat. Officials recommend seats be used to the upper height and weight limits of the seat.

- Ages 2-4 must be in a rear facing or forward-facing seat with internal harness. It is suggested that the minimum weight to face forward is 26.5 pounds and two years of age. Officials recommend seats be used to the upper height and weight limits of the seat.

- Ages 4-8 must be in a forward-facing seat with harness or booster seat. Booster seats can either be high back or backless and officials suggest the minimum age be 4 and 40 pounds.

- Children 9 years of age and over must be in a booster until they can properly use a seat belt. It is recommended that children 9 years of age or have out grown the booster seat and can pass the five-step test can use a vehicle seat belt.

If a child is not ready to move to the next stage, they may stay in the more restrictive seat until they meet the limit of height and weight for their seat.

Safety experts say rear-facing seats are the safest because the head, neck and spine are better protected in a crash.

Long said Lincoln County has nine Child and Passenger Safety Technicians if families have questions. They are located at the Troy Fire Hall, Families in Partnership, Cabinet Peaks Medical Center, Lincoln County Health Department and Montana Highway Patrol.

For more information about getting car seats checked, call the following:

Troy Fire Hall - Blaire Shupe and Katie Davis 406-295-4411

Families in Partnership - Mandie Cox, Crystal Clutter and Kara Trego 406-293-6242

Lincoln County Health Department - Sarah Long 406-283-2467

Cabinet Peaks Medical Center - Kim Rebo 406-283-7179

Trina Covington - 406-291-8516

Montana Highway Patrol - 293-5150

Officials also offered the following suggestions to children’s safety:

- Never put a rear-facing seat in front of an active air bag;

- Secure all items in your vehicle. Unsecured objects can launch when a vehicle comes to a sudden stop or is in a crash;

- Check to see if the seat is expired or recalled;

- Car seats that have been in a crash should be replaced;

- Kids should ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old;

- Remind adult occupants to be good role models and buckle up.

According to reporting in the Daily Montanan, (https://dailymontanan.com/2025/05/29/montana-updates-child-car-seat-laws-to-include-different-ages-stages/), state Rep. Marc Lee, a Democrat from Butte, introduced House Bill 586. Lee, a Butte firefighter for three decades, is a certified instructor on car safety for kids. He also teaches first responders and nurses proper child vehicle restraint practices.

“While teaching these classes to the groups I mentioned, we as instructors used to half-heartedly joke about how weak Montana’s laws are when it comes to child passenger safety,” Lee said during a House Transportation Hearing on the bill. 

He said the realization spurred him to sponsor the bill. The legislation adds definitions for “booster seats,” “child safety restraint system” and “properly restrained.”

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the new measure in May.