i need the law for

so i had an issue yesterday http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=127048with our base exchange that i posted about and i'm trying to get it taken care of but everyone on base just keeps saying buy a Japanese seat which we may do cuz i want a coccoro but i want the option to have a US seat since a Japanese seat would technically not be legal in the us.
Where can i find in writing on some US government website that it is illegal to use a car seat from another country while in the US, I know we can use the japanese seat while we are here. I'm getting flack from people on base for making a stink over this issue.

I don't believe there is such a federal mandate.

Various states have laws that require the use of a "federally approved restraint" (or similar wording), but as far as I know, there is no federal law outlawing the import or use of a foreign seat.

Every state has a different statute. However - the key is usually that the child restraint or booster seat must meet federal motor vehicle safety standards (I believe FMVSS 213 and 225 are the current standards). You're somewhat in a gray area, since any seat you get was unlikely to be designed/tested to the US standards. It doesn't mean it won't work or doesn't actually meet the standards, but it's a strange thing you'll have to deal with. For the most part, I think if you can point to a sticker that says your child restraint meets US federal standards, no law enforcement is going to cite you. Frankly, I'd think there might be different design priorities in the seats designed for different markets to meet different national standards.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/49cfr571.213.pdf
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/49cfr571.225.pdf

This is for Tennessee:

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/newCRD.htm

This is California's law:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27360.htm

CALIFORNIA CODES
VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 27360

Child Passenger Restraints: Requirements

27360. (a) A parent or legal guardian, when present in a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 27315, may not permit his or her child or ward to be transported upon a highway in the motor vehicle without properly securing the child or ward in a rear seat in a child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, unless the child or ward is one of the following:

(1) Six years of age or older.

(2) Sixty pounds or more.

Click to expand...

Hi,
Sometimes AAFES people can be such jerks. They know when you're overseas they've got you over a barrel so to speak and they treat you that way. Our motto about AAFES while stationed in the UK for 8 years was "AFFES - taking care of the most trapped customers in the world."

Here's a link to manufacturing guidelines for car seats that include how they must be labeled, what the labels must contain, specify ENGLISH language written on the seat and the instructions, etc. That may give you some leverage. It's a lengthy PDF file but may be worth the effort.

http://www.carseat.org/Legal/0_legalIP.htm

Here's a quote from another link: http://babytravel.lifetips.com/cat/64748/baby-travel-safety/index.html

"Most U.S. made car seats have FAA approval for use on airplanes. If you want to double-check, it should say, “FAA Approved in Accordance with 14CFR 21.305(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only”. Foreign made seats must have a stamp of approval from their government or the United Nations. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check with the airline as car seats wider than 16” across may not fit on an airplane seat."

One other option, APO to APO shipping is usually free. My husband is currently deployed and if there's the car seat there that you want, he might be able to mail it to you APO or through it on a transport or something. PM me if this becomes necessary. Otherwise, I'll be glad to purchase one here and ship it to you. We military wives gotta stick together!

Beth

You know, I dont think too many regular folks would know the difference between a US Coccoro and a Japanese one.
Probably not the folks on base, that's for sure.

i think i'm just going to buy a coccoro off base here, chances are by the time we move she will need a new one soon anyways, and like you guys have mentioned nobody will probably care that its a japanese version instead of the american version.

thank you all for your help