New NJ Child Passenger Safety Laws To Go Into Effect September 1
TRENTON, N.J., (CBS) -- We are less than one month away from New Jersey's new Child Passenger Safety Law going into effect. The new law will impact people traveling with a child under the age of 8-years-old.
The updated law goes into effect on September 1.
Anyone who is transporting a child under the age of eight and less than 80 lbs, must secure the child in a booster seat.
The law outlines a number of other specific requirements.
A child under 2-years-old that weighs less than 30 lbs must be secured in a rear facing child restraint system with a five point harness. A child under the age of 4-years-old weighing under 40 lbs must also be secured in a rear facing system with a five point harness until the child outgrows the height and weight requirements set by the manufacturer. At that point, the child can begin being secured in a front facing system with a five point harness.
Children that are under 8-years-old and less than 57 inches tall must be secured in a forward facing child restraint system with a five point harness or in a booster seat. Children over 8-years-old or over 57 inches tall can use a regular adult seat belt.
Fines for violating the new law will range anywhere from $50-$75. That is an increase from the $10-$25 range set by the old law. The new law also removes a provision that allowed citizens to have their fines suspended if their seat met federal standards when built and was being used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
