State requirements
TENNESSEE
› Children under 1 year of age, or any child, weighing 20 pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear-facing position in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, usually 30 or 35 pounds, it may be continued to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight permits.)
› Children ages 1-3, and weighing more than 20 pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward-facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
› Children ages 4-8, and measuring less than 4 feet 9 inches in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between 4 and 8 but is less than 4-feet-9 in height, he/she must still use a seatbelt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
› Children ages 9-12, or any child through 12, measuring 4 feet 9 inches or more in height, must be secured in a seat-belt system. It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available. (Note: If the child is not between 9 and 12, but is 4-feet-9 or more in height, he/she must still use a seat-belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
› Children ages 13-15 must be secured by using a passenger restraint system, including safety belts, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards. Source: http://www.tn.gov
GEORGIA
› All children under age 8 whose height is less than 57 inches must ride in the backseat of a car. A child is safer in the back and farthest away from the force of an airbag.
› Children under age 8 are required to be in either a car seat or a booster seat suitable for their age and height.
› If there is not a back seat in the vehicle (such as in a truck) or if other restrained children are in the back seat, Georgia law permits a child under age 8 to sit in front if restrained in the proper car seat or booster and the child weighs at least 40 pounds.