New Jersey Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified

New Jersey Car Seat Laws

New Jersey Car Seat Laws (NJ Statute 39:3-76.2)

What does the child passenger safety law in New Jersey say?

NJ Statute 39:3-76.2a – Child passenger safety law

A child under 8 years and 57 inches or less in height must be secured as follows:

A child under 2 years and weighing less than 30 lbs. must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness.
A child under 4 years and weighing less than 40 lbs. shall be secured in a rear-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness until they outgrow the maximum limits and then in a forward-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness.
A child under 8 years and less than 57 inches in height shall be secured in either a rear-facing or a forward-facing child restraint until they outgrow the maximum limits and then in a belt-positioning booster seat.
A seat safety belt must properly secure a child over 8 years and more than 57 inches.

NJ Statute 39:3-76.2f – Seat Belt Law

All passengers at least 8 years of age or at least 57 inches tall, including the driver and the front-seat passenger, must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt system.

New Jersey Car Seat Laws Rear Facing

The New Jersey car seat laws require that newborns, infants, and toddlers under 2 years and weighing under 30 lbs. ride in a rear-facing car seat equipped with a 5-point harness till they outgrow the weight and height limits of the car seat.

This follows the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children under 2 years ride in a rear-facing car seat.

It is recommended that a rear-facing car seat not be installed in the front seat with an activated airbag. However, the safest location to install a car seat is in the rear middle.

New Jersey Car Seat Laws Forward Facing

The New Jersey car seat laws on forward-facing require that a child under 4 years, weighing less than 40 lbs. and who have outgrown the weight and height limit of the rear-facing car seat ride in a forward-facing car seat equipped with a 5-point harness system.

This means children between the age of 2-4 years are to ride in a forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness system.

The State of New Jersey recommends expectant parents plan to have their infant seat installed in the car at least 3 weeks before the due date. That means, if you are pregnant and planning for a car seat, you may want to consider a child safety seat that will save you cost in the long run.

I recommend a convertible car seat which can be used in rear-facing and later converted to forward-facing when a child outgrows the weight and height limits for the rear-facing. Here’s how to choose a convertible car seat.

New Jersey Booster Seat Laws

New Jersey requires that children who have outgrown the rear-facing and forward-facing car seats and are under 8 years and less than 57 inches in height ride in a belt-positioning booster seat.

While it is allowed by the New Jersey law for a child under 8 years to ride in a booster seat, car seat manufacturers recommend that a child ride in a booster seat from 8 years up to 12 years.

An important point to note is that your child should outgrow the forward-facing car seat before transitioning to the booster seat.

A belt-positioning booster seat must be secured with a combination of the lap and shoulder belt.

New Jersey Seat Belt Laws

The State of New Jersey seat belt laws requires that a fastened safety belt properly secure a child over 8 years and more than 57 inches in height.

While a child at this age may not be big enough to fit in a safety belt properly, it is recommended that you check that your child will be properly protected by the vehicle’s seat belt before discarding the booster seat. Otherwise, you let your child continue riding in a booster seat.

Car seat manufacturers recommend that children ride in a booster seat from 8-12 years and move to the seat belt when they are big enough.

New Jersey provides the following guidelines to determine if your child is fit for the seat belt:

let your child sit in the vehicle seat with their back all the way in the vehicle seat.
Observe if their knees bend at the edge of the vehicle seat.
If the knees do not bend, you should continue using the booster seat.
If they do bend, buckle the lap and shoulder belts.
Ensure the lap belt lies across the upper legs. If the belt doesn’t lie on the upper thighs, you should continue using the booster seat.
If the belt does lie on the upper thighs, check the shoulder belt.
Ensure the shoulder belt lies on the shoulder/collarbone and is not cutting into the neck. If the belt lies on the face or neck, you should continue using the booster seat.
If the lap and shoulder belts fit as described above, then you need one more step.
Ensure your child remains secured in the correct seating position for as long as possible without slouching or shifting out of position such that the seat belt touches the face, neck, or abdomen. If your child doesn’t meet this last step, let them continue riding in the booster seat.

The New Jersey law is quite flexible and permits using a car seat outside the car seat manufacturer’s recommendation; Nevertheless, it is still advisable to follow the instructions by the manufacturers according to your child’s weight and height for absolute best safe practice.

Other Safety Seat Laws in New Jersey

Car Laws for Other Passengers in a Car

All other occupants of a vehicle must use a seat belt.

New Jersey Car Seat Laws on Front Seat – Can A Child Sit in The Front Seat?

The New Jersey car seat laws allow a child to ride in the front seat if the vehicle is not equipped with a back seat. However, if a rear-facing car seat is to be installed in the front seat, the airbag must be deactivated.

This also implies a car seat can be installed in a single cab truck. You want to ensure your truck has the proper installation features for a car seat, including the rear and forward-facing car seats.

By national best safe practices, a child under 13 years is to ride in the back seat in the appropriate car seat for their age.

New Jersey Car Seat Laws for Ubers, Taxis, or Cabs

New Jersey does not exempt taxis, cabs, ride-sharing, limos, or other passenger vehicles equipped with seat belts from the child passenger safety laws.

Children must still ride in the same type of car seats as required by the law in private vehicles.

For this reason, you may want to learn how to install an infant seat without the base.

Can You Leave a Child in Your Car Alone in New Jersey?

It could be ‘deemed’ child abuse when you leave a child alone in a car in New Jersey. Apparently, it is not safe to leave a child alone in a car as it can get pretty hot in a few minutes, exposing the child to the risk of heatstroke and death.

In 2009, there was a case regarding leaving a child in the vehicle. Even though the judgment was reversed in an appeal, such a situation could be regarded as child abuse.

You shouldn’t get yourself involved with the risk of leaving your child unattended. Therefore, if you are traveling with your newborn and need to stop, ensure there is someone else in the car except you only need to feed your child in the car seat, change diapers, and then continue the ride.

Also, be aware of the season and how to dress your child to either keep them cool or warm.

Is it illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in New Jersey?

It is illegal to smoke in a car with a child in New Jersey. The law forbids smoking around a child under 16 years. A person who violates the law would be fined $100.

The bill which prohibits smoking in a car when minors are present, was introduced in May 2015. The New Jersey Smoke-Free Act also restricts smoking in all indoor workplaces and some public places of business. fine of The State of New Jersey does not have a law that prohibits smoking around children in a car.

There are health risks associated with secondhand smoke, especially to children, including ear infections, respiratory infections, impaired lung function, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs).

Helpful Resource for Car Seat Inspection in New Jersey

Here are some go-to resources for more help on car seat installation, car seat inspection, etc., in New Jersey.

NHTSA Car Seat Inspection Stations directory – Inspection Stations Directory
All New Jersey County Child Passenger Safety Coordinators – CPS Technicians
Union County – Child Safety Seat Inspection Program
New Jersey Safe Kids Car Seat Inspection Stations Directory – Dates and Time
The Rutgers University Police Department – Child Seat Inspection Station
Atlantic Health System – Car Seat Inspections Directory in NJ Counties
The New Milford Police Department, Bergen County – Child Car Seat Inspections
Paramus Police Department, Bergen County – Car Seat Checks
Burlington County – Child Safety Seat Inspection Program
East Brunswick County – Child Passenger Safety
Madison County – Car Seat Installation
South Orange Village – Child Car Seat Fitting Station
Safe Kids Southern New Jersey – Cooper University Health Care – Car Seat Safety Inspection
Somerset County – Car Seat Inspection
Camden County – Child Safety Seat Check-Up
Morris Township County – The Morris Township Police Department – Car Seat Installation
Bernards Township Police Department – Child Seat Inspections
Gloucester County – Child Safety Seat Program
Municipality of Princeton – Car Seat Inspection/Installation
Livingston County – Child Seat Safety Inspections
Morris County – Baby Car Seat Setup Assistance

New Jersey Car Seat Laws - Updated & Simplified

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