When you think of car seats, you probably think of them as a necessary item. After all, they protect your child in the event of a crash. But what do you know about the New York state car seat law? If you’re not sure, you may want to read this blog post. In it, we will explore the basics of the law and what you need to do to be in compliance. From there, you can start planning for the long term and make sure your car is ready for your new little one.
What is The New York State Car Seat Law?
The New York State Car Seat Law is a set of regulations that govern the use of car seats in the state. The law requires all children under the age of 18 to be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat when travelling in a motor vehicle. The law also requires parents to properly restrain their children in child safety seats or boosters for riding in the backseat of a car. Parents who do not comply with these regulations can face fines up to $250.
What are the Requirements for a Child to Use a Car Seat?
In New York, children must use a car seat until they are age eight, or taller than forty-two inches, whichever comes first. A child younger than eight is only allowed to use a car seat if they are in the rear seat of the vehicle and are secured by a safety belt. Children aged eight and older are required to use an adult-sized safety belt, regardless of their height. Additionally, each child must use a car seat that is appropriate for their size and weight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created a car seat fit guide to help parents choose the best car seat for their children. Parents should also check with their vehicle’s manufacturer to find out if there are any specific requirements for their car seats.
How to Obtain a Child’s Car Seat?
If you are considering purchasing a car seat for your child, be sure to check the New York State Car Seat Law. The law requires all children passengers under 4 years old to be properly restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat or booster seat using the appropriate harness and attachment system. Appropriate restraint means using either a rear-facing child safety seat or booster seat that fits the child’s height, weight and size, with the lap/shoulder belt properly tightened.
To comply with the New York State Car Seat Law, all new cars sold in New York must come equipped with a standard forward-facing child safety seat. For older children who no longer need a rear-facing child safety seat, but still need use of a car restraint, New York State law provides for an age-appropriate boosterseat that is correctly fitted and uses the appropriate harness and attachment system. A boosterseat should only be used if it is more than 2 inches higher than the top of the vehicle’s front seats (in order to provide proper head support), and it should fit snugly next to the backseat passenger’s bottom.
In addition to ensuring that your child is properly restrained in their car seat, always keep in mind that driving while unrestrained can increase your risk of injury not just to your children but also other drivers on the road. Always use caution when driving with young children in tow!
What are The Penalties for Not Having a Child Use a Car Seat?
In New York State, children under the age of 12 must be restrained in a car seat or booster seat when traveling in a vehicle. If the child is not properly restrained, the driver may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment. Violations of this law can result in a ticket, suspension of your driver’s license, or both.
Penalties for not having a child use a car seat may include:
-A fine of up to $250
-A one-year suspension of your driver’s license
-Up to 6 months in jail
What Are The Requirements if You are Driving in Another State and Your Child is Using Your Vehicle’s Safety Seats?
In New York, the safety of children in cars is a top priority. The law requires that all children under the age of 8 be restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat when being transported in a motor vehicle. Children between 8 and 11 years old must use an appropriate child restraint system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 213, which are more stringent than New York State requirements.
The law also requires parents to properly install child restraints and be able to correctly use them themselves. Parents who cannot install or use a restraint should not transport their children in a car. If the child is unrestrained and younger than 2 years old, the parent may transport the child in the rearward-facing portion of a travel restraint system if: 1) the vehicle has seating for no more than two occupants in the rearward-facing position; 2) if both parents are sitting with their heads directly forward, the front outboard shoulder of each parent’s seat is at or below the hip level of the child; 3) both parents are using lap/shoulder belts; 4) there is no other passenger occupied row behind where the child will be seated; 5) neither parent’s feet extend past any part of either bench seat edge that joins two adjacent rows of seats on each side of the vehicle; 6) neither parent’s torso extends beyond any part of either bench seat back that joins two adjacent rows of seats on each side of the vehicle.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to move to or reside in New York State, it is important that you are aware of the new car seat law that went into effect on July 1st. Under this law, all children under the age of one must be restrained in a forward-facing child safety seat or an appropriate booster seat while travelling in a motor vehicle. If your child is between one and two years old and weighs more than 40 pounds, he or she must be placed in a rear-facing child safety seat. Children who are at least three years old but less than six years old and weigh at least 20 pounds must be placed in a booster seat when travelling in a motor vehicle. Finally, children six years old and older who weigh more than 20 pounds but less than 50 pounds must be placed in a standard safety belt.