Car Seat Laws in New Jersey
Any adult traveling with a child in New Jersey is required to secure the minor in a proper safety seat at all times. Under New Jersey law, children under the age of eight and under 57 inches tall must use a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of a vehicle. The right type of child safety system varies based on the child’s age and weight. Make sure to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer in New Jersey.
What Are New Jersey’s Car Seat Requirements?
The New Jersey Child Passenger Restraint Law (Title 39:3-76.2a) states that every person operating a motor vehicle equipped with safety belts, besides a school bus, must secure any child passengers in restraint systems or booster seats when transporting them on public roads, streets or highways.
The required type of child passenger restraints system depends on the child:
- Rear-facing seat: all children under the age of two years old and weighing less than 30 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing car seat that is equipped with a five-point harness system.
- Forward-facing seat: once a child meets the maximum height or weight recommendations by the manufacturer, he or she can graduate to a forward-facing car seat that is equipped with a five-point harness.
- Booster seat: upon reaching the top height or top weight recommendation of a forward-facing car seat, the child can transition to a booster seat, which must lift the child to the correct height to properly wear a seat belt.
- Seat belt: only when a child has reached the age of eight years old or exceeded 57 inches in height is he or she permitted to use only a seat belt. The lap belt should fit securely over the child’s hips, not stomach. The shoulder belt should sit across the chest, not the throat or face.
Be careful to select the right child restraint system for your child based on his or her age, height, weight and the manufacturer’s instructions. This is critical for keeping them safe in potential automobile accidents.
Dos and Don’ts of Riding With Children in the Car
Children should remain in the back seat of a motor vehicle at least until age 13 for safety reasons. It is not safe for a small child to sit in the front due to the force of the passenger-side airbag. If there are no rear seats, the child may ride in the front, but only if the passenger-side airbag is disabled or turned off.
Purchase and install your car seat at least three weeks before your due date. The safest place is in the back center seat of the car. For professional assistance installing or checking safety seat systems, you can participate in a free program in your area.
Never hold an infant or child on your lap while riding in the front or back seat of a motor vehicle. If you need to nurse or feed your child, do not remove the child from the car seat unless the vehicle is pulled over in a safe location.
Be sure your child’s safety seat harness fits snugly and correctly over the child’s body. Never use an old or used car seat, or one that has been involved in a crash, as its integrity could be compromised.
What Are the Penalties of Violating New Jersey’s Car Seat Laws?
It is a driver’s responsibility to ensure compliance with New Jersey’s car seat laws any time a vehicle is carrying child passengers on a public road, even for short drives. If a driver is found to be in violation of these laws, he or she can face a fine of $50 to $75 per unrestrained child under the age of 18 in the vehicle. Speak with a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey for legal guidance and support.