Child Booster Seat Law
New Jersey’s Child Booster Seat Law Requires:
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Children
up to age 8 or 80 pounds must ride in a safety or booster seat in the rear
of the vehicle. If there is no rear seat, the child must sit in the front
passenger seat secured by a safety or booster seat. The seat must be
positioned as far back as possible to avoid the air bag.
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Children
under age 8 years old who weigh more than 80 pounds, or who are over 8 years
old and weigh less than 80 pounds, must wear a seat belt anywhere inside the
vehicle. It is recommended that they be secured in the rear seats.
Why was New Jersey’s Child Passenger
Safety Law Upgraded?
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Motor
vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages
of 4 years old to 14 years old.
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More
than 1,700 children under the age of 15 died in motor vehicle crashes in the
year 2000, with the majority of them not secured in a safety seat or seat
belt.
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Adults
please set the proper example for your children as they are our precious
cargo!
4 Steps to Child Passenger Safety
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Infant Seats: Designed
for children up to 1 year old and 20
pounds. Infant seats are always
secured rear facing.
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Forward-Facing
Seats: Designed
for children between 40 and up to 80 pounds. Toddler seats are always
positioned forward-facing.
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Booster Seats: Designed
for children between 40 pounds and up to 80 pounds. Booster seats raise the
child so the vehicles lap and shoulder belt fit them properly. The seat belt
should be positioned across the child’s
body the same as an adult. The knees should also be able to hang over the
seat.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My son is 7 years old and weighs 83 pounds. Is he
required to be in a booster seat?
A: No. When the child has reached the
80 pound requirement, he is no longer required to be in a booster seat. He
is required to be in a seat belt
Q: My daughter is 8 years old but only weighs 76 pounds.
Does she need a booster seat?
A:
No. When your child reached the
age of 8 she is exempt from the booster seat portion of the law. She is
required to be in a seat belt.
NOTE:
In both of these cases, the children are exempt for the booster seat law.
However, the seat belt system still may not fit them properly. A booster
seat may still be needed to insure a proper fit on the child. The lap belt
should fit over the child’s pockets or the upper thighs and across the
chest and shoulder.
Booster Seats: Must be secured with both a lap/shoulder belt systems.
Do not use a lap belt alone.
Parents have also asked what remedies are available for vehicles
equipped with lap belts only, in the rear seating positions. The following
options may be used to address these concerns.
Britax
Super Elite: This seat has an internal harness system that is rated to 80 pounds.
Britax now has several other seats that are also rated to 80 pounds.
New Jersey State Law
39:3-76.a
Failure
to use or properly use an approved child restraint system.
39:3-76.2f
Failure to wear
safety belt.
PRPD Child Safety Seat Unit 
