What car seat does a child under 4 need in New Jersey?
A child in New Jersey is under 4 years old and under 40 pounds. How must the child ride?
The answer
The child must ride in the rear seat in a five-point harness child seat. The law allows either a rear-facing seat until the child outgrows it and then a forward-facing harness seat, or a forward-facing harness seat from the start.
A 2015 law set tiers by age, weight and height. A child under 2 and under 30 pounds must be in a rear-facing seat with a five-point harness.
For a child under 4 and under 40 pounds, the law gives two options: a rear-facing five-point harness seat until the child outgrows it and then a forward-facing five-point harness seat, or a forward-facing five-point harness seat from the start, in the rear either way. A child under 8 and under 57 inches then uses a forward-facing harness seat and later a booster in the rear.
Exceptions
- If the vehicle has no rear seat, the child may use the required restraint in the front seat.
- A rear-facing seat may not be used in the front seat where the passenger airbag is active.
- The law does not apply to school buses.
Penalty
$50 to $75 fine under the 2015 law (raised from $10 to $25).
Why this rule matters for safety
A harnessed seat spreads crash forces over a small body, and the rear seat keeps children away from front airbags.
Official sources
- P.L.2015, c.50 (amends R.S.39:3-76.2a) · New Jersey LegislatureChild restraint tiers, front seat rule, fines. Approved May 7, 2015; takes effect on the first day of the fourth month after approval, which is September 1, 2015 by that count.
- Child Passenger Safety · NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety (Office of the Attorney General)Age, weight and height tiers; undated page.
Rules checked against these sources on . Laws change. Confirm with the New Jersey agency before you rely on this for a legal matter.
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