New Jersey state law currently requires all children under the age of 8, weighing less than 80 lbs., to ride in the back seat of a vehicle in either a child safety seat or booster seat. Those under the age of 8, and those between the ages of 8 and 18, are only required to wear a regular safety belt.

Under the new law:

Infant to age 2: 

• Car seats must remain rear-faced in the vehicle if the child is under 30 lbs. and under the age of 2. The car seat also has to have a five-point harness.
• Children over the weight or age limit can be placed in a forward facing car seat

Ages 2 to 4: 

• Children under the age of 4 or under 40 lbs. must remain in either a rear-facing or a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness in the back seat of a vehicle.

• Children over the weight or age limit can switch over to a booster seat.

Ages 4 to 8:

• Children under the age of 8 or height requirement of 57 inches tall must remain in the back of the vehicle in a booster seat.

• Once the child has exceeded the weight and height limited they are eligible to use a regular seat belt.

When can my child sit in the front seat?

• A child can sit in the front seat of a vehicle if that vehicle does not have a back seat - such as a pick-up truck or a sports car. However, the car seat and booster seat regulations still apply (i.e. Car seats must remain rear-faced in the vehicle if the child is under 30 lbs. and under the age of 2).

• Also, the vehicle’s passenger-side airbag must be disabled if a rear-facing car seat is strapped into the front seat of the vehicle.

What if you don’t comply with the law?

• Those who don’t follow the new laws will face fines ranging from $50 to $75 beginning in September. Before the revisions, the fines were only $10 to $25.

FREE CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS:

Visit the Jersey City Medical Center EMS Building, 415 Montgomery Avenue, in Jersey City for a free child seat car inspection on Thursdays in September and from October to March on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays between 10am and 2pm. No appointments needed. 

For more information call 201-915-2906, or email mfisher@libertyhcs.org