What are the New Jersey Car Seat Laws?
What Will I Learn?
Welcome to the New Jersey Car Seat Law Explained in Simple, Plain English!
If you want to know the current car seat laws for the state of New Jersey, you have just found the place.
Look:
I’m a mom of 3 perfectly adorable angels (well, if they are asleep, that is), and we are on the road a lot, so I have no choice but to keep myself updated with all the car seat laws.
Thanks to my paralegal past, I have the skills to find the right laws instantly, and best of all, I can break down lawyer talk that is understood by everyone.
This is the reason why I’ve created this article to help parents to keep their kids safe and avoid those fines.
Now, maybe you want to find some specific answers such as what’s the booster seat law, or do taxis need child safety seats, or when can you transition a child into forward-facing. You’re in luck because I have the answers right below and then some.
Let’s get started already!
By reading this article you agree that it’s for informational purposes and I can’t be held liable for the best advice ask the appropriate person.
New Jersey Booster Seat Law
According to the booster seat law in New Jersey, a child can use a booster seat between the ages of 4 and 8 until they reach the height of 57 inches.
However, they can use their forward-facing seat over the age of 4 if they don’t max out the height or weight limit.
New Jersey Rear-facing Car Seat Law
According to the law, all kids under the age of 2 and weighing less than 30 pounds have to be secured in a rear-facing car seat with a 5 point harness.
New Jersey Forward-facing Car Seat Law
According to the law, kids under the age of 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds should be secured in a forward-facing car seat with a 5 point harness.
However, the child can use the rear-facing car seat even after 2 if they didn’t max out either the weight or height limit.
New Jersey Taxi Car Seat Law
Taxis and ride-sharing services are not exempted from the car seat laws mentioned above. This means that either you bring your own car seat or arrange it ahead of time.
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in New Jersey?
According to the law, kids under the age of 8 have to be secured in the appropriate car seat that is federally approved in the back seat if there’s one.
However, experts suggest that only kids above the age of 13 should be sitting in the front seat.
New Jersey Car Seat Law at a Glance
Here you can find the entire law in one place:
Car Seat Law (NJSA 39:3-76.2a)
Law: According to the law, all kids under the age of 8 have to be secured in the proper car seat in the back seat of the vehicle according to FMVSS 213.
- If your child is under the age of 2, weighing less than 30 pounds, it has to be secured in a rear-facing car seat with a 5 point harness.
- Suppose your child is under the age of 4 and weighs less than 40 pounds. They have to be secured either by a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum allowed weight and height. Or in a forward-facing car seat, and both these car seats have to have a 5 point harness.
- If your child is under the age of 8 and is shorter than 57”, then they have to be secured with a forward-facing seat with a 5 point harness until they outgrow it or in a booster seat.
Location in car: According to the law, kids under the age of 8 or under the height of 57 inches have to be secured in the back seat if available.
Taxi: Taxis and ride-sharing services are NOT exempt from the car seat laws mentioned above. This means that you have to bring your own car seat or arrange it ahead of time.
RideSafer legal: Yes. The Ride Safer travel vest qualifies for children who are at least age 3 and 30 pounds.
Fines: $75
Seat Belt Law
- Law: According to the law, all occupants within the vehicle have to wear a seat belt.
- Fine: $46
- RVs: The RV law follows the general seat belt law, so all occupants have to wear the seat belt, and for kids, child seat laws apply.
What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the Car in New Jersey?
There are no laws governing if you can leave a child unattended in a vehicle. However, there is the possibility of getting convicted for negligence.
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in New Jersey?
It’s illegal to smoke in a vehicle if there’s a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle.
Conclusions on New Jersey Car Seat Laws
We have reached the end of this article. I’ve promised what I’ve delivered. All the laws are broken down into simple chunks, and I avoided lawyer jargon.
Plus, now you know exactly how to keep your kids safe. It’s possible that you might have additional questions, so reach out to me, and I will do my best to help you out.
Maybe you can help me out by sharing this post so other parents can know exactly how to keep their kids safe and avoid fines in the process. Thank You!
Related: Car seat laws in NY
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the law for booster seats in NJ?
The law for booster seats in NJ is the following: kids between the ages of 4 and 8 have to use the booster seat until they reach either the age of 8 or the height of 57”. After that, they can transition to the seat belt.
Can 8-year-old sit without a car seat?
Yes, an 8-year-old in NJ can sit without a car seat, and they have to use the seat belt instead.
When can a child sit in a backless booster?
It depends on the brand and model; however a rough estimate would be between the ages of 8 and 12.
Car seats (child safety seat) or seat belts when should I use which?
According to the law under the age of 8 you need to use car seats (child safety seat) and above it the seat belt.
What’s the NJ car seat law about rear facing car seats?
According to new jersey law a rear facing car seat has to be used until 2 years old and these car seats (child’s car seat) has to be installed on the rear seat of the motor vehicle.
Are NJ child seat laws different from other states?
Yes, child seat laws vary from state to state. You should check the car seat laws of the state you’re travelling to.
What are the booster seat requirements in New Jersey?
The booster seat requirements in New Jersey are as follows: kids between the ages of 4 and 8 have to use the booster seat until they reach either the age of 8 or the height of 57”.
Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley
