What states are Swedish seats legal?

frugalmom · Jun 19, 2009

I was just reading in another thread that it depends on the state you are in if Swedish seats are legal to use.
Is that true?

What states are they legal to use in?

Please say WI.

joolsplus3 · Jun 19, 2009

Technically none. If your state doesn't have a 'proper use clause' then it's slightly ok, I guess. Anyone can legally get a waiver to import a seat legally from NHTSA if they feel your child has special needs. But mostly those of us with non-US seats are just banking on the fact that no one would ever question our seats or dispute their safety should there be a crash involving injuries

ZephyrBlue · Jun 19, 2009

Where can you read the policies (ie- whether there is a proper use clause) for each state?

vonfirmath · Jun 19, 2009

It varies by state. Where do you go in your state to read your state's laws?

Texas laws are available at: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/

Washington laws are available at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/

I don't know if every state has their laws online or not.

Lys · Jun 19, 2009

Actually none since they haven't been tested per FMVSS 213.

LISmama810 · Jun 19, 2009

lodonal65 said:
Actually none since they haven't been tested per FMVSS 213.

I think it would depend on whether the state's law requires the seat to meet FMVSS. I know in California, the law says the seat must be "federally approved." So that would make a Swedish seat illegal. I don't know if any states DON'T have that language, but it wouldn't surprise me.

There is also thought that once your child is no longer covered under a state's car seat law, it would be ok to use a Swedish seat. For example, if your state says that kids under 4 years or 40 lbs need to be secured in a federally approved seat, can you use a non-approved seat for a kid who is over 4 or over 40 lbs?

Clearly the spirit of any of the laws is that children use nothing but federally approved seats. But if the letter of the law isn't clear, I'd say it's up to the parent.

ketchupqueen · Jun 19, 2009

Wisconsin has language in the child restraint law stating that restraints must be "in accordance with federal standards." So if such a state exists (and I haven't read every law completely) WI isn't it, sorry.

What states are Swedish seats legal?

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