Florida taxi laws regarding car seats

My sister has 2 children 3 and 5. They are both still in car seats (the 5 year old is really small for her age). My other sister has a 2 year old. They will not be bringing car seats with them. They will need transportation from FLL to Port Everglades. Normally they would just take a taxi so they don't have to wait on a shuttle, but some people have told us that Florida does not allow children in taxis without their car seats. Does anyone know if this is true? If it is, can someone recommend a shuttle company or other transportation that does not require the children to be in car seats?

Car seats for kids under 5 and under 40 pounds are required if the vehicle has seat belts. The parent is responsible for ensuring the children are in car seats - most taxis will not carry them unless you bring your own. Not sure about what ports you plan to visit, but the laws of physics apply everywhere -- the kids will not be safe unless they are in properly sized/installed car seats. Many years ago car seats were not available/required - and I have the scars to prove it. :(

The airline will check the seats for free if you choose not to use the seats on the plane; why would you not bring/use car seats? :confused: There are travel car/booster seats that may meet your needs and are less cumbersome - check Target and Amazon. Bringing your own seat is the only way to be sure that the seat is properly sized and maintained.

Go Airport shuttle and QLS may be able to provide transport with car seats to PE; the cruise line transfer bus will not require car seats.

It is about 3-4 miles tops.

If they're in booster seats, you can get an inflatable one on Amazon fairly cheap. That's what we use for our 6 year old. They work great. Once you're out of the car you can deflate them and they roll up and you can put them in your bag.

Florida Child Car Seat Laws

It is the responsibility of the supervising adult to ensure that any child under 5 years old is seated in a federally-approved child car seat. Failure to do so could result in a $60 fine and 3 points against your driver's license.

Florida law states:

• Children 5 years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system:
  
  • Children 3 years old and younger must use a separate car-seat or the vehicle's built-in child seat.
    
  • Children 4 through 5 years must sit in either a separate car seat, a built in child seat or a seat belt, depending on the child's height and weight.
    

When we've needed carseats provided we've used South Florida Shuttles and would highly recommend them.

http://www.southfloridashuttles.com

(954-) 227-0311

Our most recent experience with them was March (2017) for our extended family cruise on Harmony...We booked them roundtrip...on time and very professional.

If they're in booster seats, you can get an inflatable one on Amazon fairly cheap. That's what we use for our 6 year old. They work great. Once you're out of the car you can deflate them and they roll up and you can put them in your bag.

Those are "Bubblebums" and can work great (we have two)...However their for children 4-11 years old

40-100lbs. so they may not work for the OP.

Florida Child Car Seat Laws

 

 

There is a different statute that applies to trips with a professional driver.

(It would be hard to assess points against someone who had no drivers license or was from a foreign country.)

There is a different statute that applies to trips with a professional driver.

 

(It would be hard to assess points against someone who had no drivers license or was from a foreign country.)

great .... SHOW IT :p

I drove a shuttle van for a while when I lived in FL, we were required to have the child seats just like a personal vehicle. Maybe you can't assess points but you can still be monetarily fined.

There is a different statute that applies to trips with a professional driver.

 

(It would be hard to assess points against someone who had no drivers license or was from a foreign country.)

The points are assessed against the driver, not the passenger.

Yikes, I would not want to drive around South Florida without my kids in some sort of restraint.

What are they going to do on the plane?

The condensed version of the Florida law I provided uses the words "surpervising adult"

The full statute is provided here ... note the final section (6)

316.613 Child restraint requirements.—

(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined in this section, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.

1. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat.

2. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat may be used. However, the requirement to use a child restraint device under this subparagraph does not apply when a safety belt is used as required in s. 316.614(4)(a) and the child:

a. Is being transported gratuitously by an operator who is not a member of the child’s immediate family;

b. Is being transported in a medical emergency situation involving the child; or

c. Has a medical condition that necessitates an exception as evidenced by appropriate documentation from a health care professional.

(b) The department shall provide notice of the requirement for child restraint devices, which notice shall accompany the delivery of each motor vehicle license tag.

(2) As used in this section, the term “motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle as defined in s.316.003 that is operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of the state. The term does not include

(a) A school bus as defined in s. 316.003.

(b) A bus used for the transportation of persons for compensation, other than a bus regularly used to transport children to or from school, as defined in s. 316.615(1)(b), or in conjunction with school activities.

© A farm tractor or implement of husbandry.

(d) A truck having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds.

(e) A motorcycle, moped, or bicycle.

(3) The failure to provide and use a child passenger restraint shall not be considered comparative negligence, nor shall such failure be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action with regard to negligence.

(4) It is the legislative intent that all state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, and safety councils, in recognition of the problems with child death and injury from unrestrained occupancy in motor vehicles, conduct a continuing safety and public awareness campaign as to the magnitude of the problem.

(5) Any person who violates this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318 and shall have 3 points assessed against his or her driver license as set forth in s.322.27. In lieu of the penalty specified in s. 318.18 and the assessment of points, a person who violates this section may elect, with the court’s approval, to participate in a child restraint safety program approved by the chief judge of the circuit in which the violation occurs, and, upon completing such program, the penalty specified in chapter 318 and associated costs may be waived at the court’s discretion and the assessment of points shall be waived. The child restraint safety program must use a course approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the fee for the course must bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of providing the course.

(6) The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare as defined in s. 39.01 to comply with the requirements of this section.

CAPT - thanks!

OP - you may want to search the Family cruise board to find solutions that worked for others cruising with young kids: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

CAPT - thanks!

 

OP - you may want to search the Family cruise board to find solutions that worked for others cruising with young kids: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

And why I offered my post #6 and avoided getting into this conversation quoting the "Law". Just makes it easier to use a private company that will provide not only a carseat but the type your child needs. We've traveled/cruised for years but now with young grandchildren certain precautions and arrangements must be made...but we're learning each time...just a bit more planning.

Hiring a company to provide a car seat may be easier, but the only way to guarantee that the seat is properly sized and maintained is to bring your own.