The car seat law in New Jersey planned to keep children safe while riding in a motor vehicle. All drivers are required to properly secure all children under the age of eight in a car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for their height, weight and age.
In New Jersey, car seat laws require that all children under the age of 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle. Additionally, children under 2 years of age and weighing less than 30 pounds must be in a rear-facing car seat.
It is essential to follow these guidelines to ensure the safety of children while traveling in vehicles. Violating these laws can result in fines and penalties.
What is the car seat law in new jersey?
All types of car seats and booster seats must be secured in a rear-facing or forward-facing position in the back. If the vehicle does not have a back seat then the child can travel in a forward-facing position in the front seat.
New Jersey law requires all children under 2 must secure in a rear-facing car seat. Children who are 2 years of age or older, and weigh 40 or more pounds, may be secured in a forward-facing car seat. All car seats and booster seats must be secured with a lap and shoulder belt or with a lap belt only if the vehicle is not equipped with a shoulder belt.
If a child is 8 years of age or older, or weighs 65 or more pounds, they may be secured by a properly fitting lap and shoulder belt. The shoulder belt must be worn across the chest and rested on the shoulder, not under the arm or behind the back.
Children under age 4 must not ride in the front seat of a vehicle that is equipped with a passenger airbag. If all seating places are settled then the older child can ride in the front seat. All front-seat passengers must be appropriate with a lap and shoulder belt. The driver and all passengers in a vehicle must wear a properly fitting seat belt at all times.
NJ booster seat law
In New Jersey, the booster seat law mandates that children under the age of 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds must be secured in a car seat or booster seat.
This law ensures that children are adequately protected and restrained while traveling in a vehicle, promoting their safety during transportation.
New car seat law in NJ
In December 2020, all car and booster seat laws in New Jersey changed. The new car seat rules in New Jersey are:
- Children under the age of 2 must be in a rear-facing car seat.
- Under the age of 4 must be in a car safety seat.
- All children under the age of 8 must be in a booster seat.
- Children under the age of 18 must use a seat belt.
The changes to the car seat law in New Jersey are based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Law Enforcement Officer: Rules & Fine
If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer and a child under eight is not properly secured in a car seat or booster seat, you may be issued a summons and be required to appear in court. The fine can be $25 to $100.
Source: New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety at (609) 633-9200
Front seat requirements NJ
In New Jersey, the law requires that all passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt, regardless of their seating position in the vehicle.
Additionally, passengers under 8 years old and under 57 inches tall must be secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle.
This helps ensure the safety of young passengers while traveling in vehicles in New Jersey.
Age for booster seat NJ
In New Jersey, children are required to use booster seats until they meet one of two criteria:
- Age: They turn 8 years old.
- Height: They reach 4’9″ (57 inches) tall.
So, as long as a child is under 8 years old and under 4’9″ tall, they must use a booster seat while riding in the back seat of a vehicle.
Here’s a breakdown of New Jersey’s child passenger safety law:
- Under 2 years old and 30 pounds: Rear-facing car seat with a 5-point harness.
- Under 4 years old and 40 pounds: Forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness.
- Under 8 years old and 57 inches tall: Booster seat with a lap belt properly positioned across the upper thighs and shoulder belt across the chest.
- 8 years old or 57 inches tall: Seat belt properly adjusted (lap belt across upper thighs and shoulder belt across chest/collarbone).
Even though it’s not legally required, some safety experts recommend children use booster seats until they reach 4’9″ tall, regardless of age. This is because even at 8 years old, a child’s body proportions may not be mature enough for the adult seat belt to fit properly in a crash.
Frequently asked questions about child booster seat laws in NJ
When was the seat belt law passed in New Jersey?
In 1984, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to require the use of seat belts in all passenger vehicles. The seat belt law was enacted to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle accidents.
What are the forward-facing car seat laws in NJ?
All children under the age of 8 must be secured in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
What are the new jersey taxi car seat laws?
The rules/laws go the same as the above car seat laws in NJ.
The legal age to sit in front seat NJ?
In New Jersey, the legal age to sit in the front seat of a car is 21. This is because the front seat is considered the safest place in the car and it is also where the airbags are located. The legal age to sit in the front seat is also 21 in other states, such as New York and Pennsylvania.
NJ Car Seat Laws 2024
In 2024, New Jersey’s car seat laws haven’t changed since their update in September 2020. Here’s a summary of the current regulations:
Children under 2 years old and 30 pounds: Must be in a rear-facing car seat with a 5-point harness.
Children under 4 years old and 40 pounds: Can be in either a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness.
Children under 8 years old and 57 inches tall: Must be in a booster seat with the vehicle’s lap belt positioned across their upper thighs and the shoulder belt across their chest.
Children 8 years old or 57 inches tall: Can safely use the vehicle’s adult seat belt, provided it fits properly (lap belt across upper thighs and shoulder belt across chest/collarbone).
Final Note
In New Jersey, car seat laws require that all children under the age of 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds (ca. 36 kg) must be secured in a car seat or booster seat. Children under 2 years of age and weighing less than 30 pounds (ca. 14 kg) must be in a rear-facing car seat.
Violating these laws can result in fines and penalties, so it’s essential to follow them to ensure the safety of children while traveling in vehicles.