When can a child sit in the front seat of a car in Illinois?

According to the Office of the Secretary of State for Illinois, children should stay in the back seat until they are at least 12 years old. Children should remain in a booster seat until they are tall enough to correctly fit in an adult safety belt.

The Office of the Secretary of State says that a belt-positioning booster seat is needed until a lap belt lies low across the child's upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits snugly across his shoulder and chest, not his face or neck. A child may ride in the back seat while wearing only a lap belt if the vehicle does not have a combination lap and shoulder belt and only if the child weighs more than 40 pounds.