The Car Seat Rules
N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2a — rear facing, forward facing, booster, by age and size
In New Jersey, every person operating a motor vehicle other than a school bus, equipped with safety belts or a LATCH system, secures a child in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat meeting the federal standard, in a rear seat, by the steps the section sets.
| The child | What the section requires |
|---|---|
| The childUnder the age of two years and less than 30 pounds | What the section requiresA rear facing restraint with a five-point harness |
| The childUnder the age of four years and less than 40 pounds | What the section requiresRear facing with a five-point harness until the child outgrows it, then forward facing with a five-point harness |
| The childUnder the age of eight years and less than 57 inches | What the section requiresForward facing with a five-point harness until the child outgrows it, then a booster seat |
- If there are no rear seats, the child is secured in a front seat, but never rear facing in front of a passenger airbag that is not disabled or turned off.
- Failure to be secured is not contributory negligence, and is not admissible as evidence in a civil trial.
Sources for this section (1)
- N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2a — Child passenger restraint system or booster seat required
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Jersey attorney.