Car seats and booster seats decorate the vehicles of families all over New York. Parents are all too familiar with the transition from rear-facing infant seats to car seats and booster seats. While it may be common knowledge that all children must use safety seats, not all drivers are familiar with the legal age requirement a child must meet before they can stop using a booster seat. According to New York law, all children must use a booster seat until they turn eight years old. In fact, a person who violates the state’s car seat laws by not properly restraining a child in a car seat or booster seat will face fines and potential driver violation points on their license.
All parents or guardians need to be familiar with New York’s laws governing child safety seats. Such laws are in place to promote the safety and well-being of all children on the road. Should you get involved in a car accident, your child’s car seat or booster seat could be life-saving. The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP understands the difficulty of navigating the aftermath of a car accident, and our team of skilled attorneys is prepared to support and guide you.
New York Laws Governing Child Safety Seats
It is important that all parents and guardians understand the laws surrounding child safety seats so that their children will be safe in the event of an accident. According to New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles, there are three main rules governing child safety seats:
- Any child under two years of age must ride in a rear-facing infant seat.
- Any child under four years of age must ride in an appropriate child safety seat.
- All children must ride using an appropriate child restraint system until they are eight years of age.
Generally, only infants face the rear in their safety seats, and toddlers can sit in car seats that face forward. From the age of four to eight, the law requires that a child use an appropriate child restraint system. Such a system can consist of a vest, harness, car seat, or booster seat. The law prohibits children under eight years old from riding with a seat belt only. Any person who violates New York’s seat belt or child safety seat laws will be subject to a fine of up to $50.
Understanding Which Type of Safety Seat Is Right for Your Child
New York law not only sets forth the age requirements pertaining to child safety seats, but it also delineates which types of seats must be used for certain ages. For example, children under two must use rear-facing infant seats. Typically, infant seats will fit children who weigh up to twenty-two pounds and are less than twenty-five inches long. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing infant seat, they must sit in a front-facing child car seat until they are four years old. A child usually outgrows a car seat once they weigh more than forty pounds. Finally, the most common child safety seat used for children who weigh between forty and eighty pounds is the booster seat. As stated above, children are legally required to use a booster seat until they are eight years old.
The New York child safety seat laws have been put in place to protect children on the roads. If you or someone you know plans to drive with children in the vehicle, it is not enough to simply have the applicable car seats installed in the back seat. You must also ensure that your child is securely fastened into the seat to maximize the child’s safety.
Contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Today if You Have Been in a Car Accident
Car seat laws protect children in the event of an accident. The regular seat belts that come with vehicles are designed to fit adults; thus, they do not provide adequate protection for children. Parents and guardians are legally required to have their child use the appropriate form of safety seat until the child reaches eight years of age. At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP we know how important it is to keep your loved ones protected before, during, and after an accident. Our team wants to help guide you if you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident in New York.
The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP has an experienced team of personal injury lawyers prepared to discuss the facts of your car accident case with you. To schedule your free consultation with us, you can call (516) 358-6900 or fill out our contact form.
