New Jersey 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. If there is no rear seat, the child must sit in the front seat secured by a safety or booster seat.
• 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 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!, New Jersey law requires drivers and adult front seat passengers to wear their seat belts.

New Jersey's Booster Seat Law

Under the new law, children under age 8 or weighing less than 80 pounds are required to be in a booster seat, in the rear of the vehicle. Passengers over age 8 and under 18 are required to be in a seat belt anywhere in the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. 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.
 

Q. My daughter is 8 years old but only 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. Although a booster seat may not be required, it may still be needed to insure proper fit on the child. The lap belt should fit over the child's pockets or upper thigh and across the chest and shoulder.

Booster seats must be used with a lap/shoulder belt system.

Parents have asked what remedies are available for vehicles equipped with lap belts only in the rear seating position. The following four options may be used to address these concerns:

• Britax Super Elite: This seat has an internal harness system rated to 80 pounds.

• Britax Lap Top: This seat is rated to 65 pounds.
• Easy On Vest 86Y Universal Harness: This vest is rated from 40 to 164 pounds and requires a tether anchor. This product is available from Jersey Bus Sales, Bordentown, NJ, (609) 298-2987. EZ On Products (800) 323-6598.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends retro-fitting vehicles with lap shoulder belts, if possible, as another alternative.
   

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