New Law Requires More Protection for Child Passengers

Effective December 1, 2001, New Jersey’s child passenger safety law requires:

Children up to age 8 or 80 pounds must ride in a safety or booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle. 
Children under age 8 who weigh more than 80 pounds must wear a seat belt anywhere in the vehicle.
Passengers age 8 to 18 (regardless of weight) must wear a seat belt anywhere inside a vehicle.

Why was New Jersey’s child passenger safety law upgraded?

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages 4 to 14.
More than 1,700 children under age 15 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2000, with the majority not in a safety seat or seat belt.

The 4 steps to child passenger safety:

 • Infant Seats, designed for children up to 1 year old and, usually 20 pounds in weight. Infant   seats are always positioned rear-facing.

 • Forward-facing seats, designed for children between 20 and 40 pounds. Toddler seats are always positioned forward-facing.

 • Booster seats, designed for children between 40 and up to 80 pounds. Booster seats raise a child so the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt fits properly and allow the knees to bend.

 • Seat Belts, Adults, please set the proper example!

Frequently Asked Questions concerning New Jersey’s Booster Seat Law.

My son is 7 years old and weights 83 pounds. Is he required to be in a booster
seat?
A. No. When the child has reached the 80-pound plateau, he is no longer required to be in a booster seat. He is required to wear a seat belt.

My daughter is 8 years old but weights 76 pounds. Does she need a booster seat?
A.No.When she reached the age 8 she is exempt from the booster seat portion of the law, but is required to be in a seat belt.

NOTE: In both of these cases, the children are exempt from the booster seat section of the law, however the seat belt system may not fit them properly. The lap belt should fit over the child’s pockets or upper thigh and across the chest and shoulder. So in some cases the booster seat may still be needed to insure a proper fit.

BOOSTER SEATS MUST BE USED WITH A LAP/SHOULDER BELT SYSTEM.