New York State has strict regulations regarding the use of booster seats for children older than four years old. These requirements are aimed at ensuring the safety of children traveling by motor vehicle by requiring them to use an appropriate child restraint system that meets specific size and weight recommendations. Here's a breakdown of the current booster seat requirements in New York:
Age Requirements
- Children under the age of four must use a rear-facing car seat.
Weight and Height Limits
- Children up to 40 pounds (18 kg) in weight and 4 feet 9 inches (150 cm) in height can use an infant-only seat or a rear-facing convertible or all-in-one car seat.
- Children between 40 pounds (18 kg) and 80 pounds (36 kg) in weight and 4 feet 9 inches (150 cm) to 4 feet 11 inches (155 cm) in height must use a harness or harness/tether system.
- Children over 80 pounds (36 kg) in weight and 4 feet 11 inches (155 cm) in height must use a booster seat.
Booster Seat Use
- After age four, children must transition to a booster seat that is suitable for their age and size, as recommended by the child restraint manufacturer.
- Booster seats are designed to raise a child up so that the safety belt fits properly, thereby improving protection during a crash.
- Booster seats are not appropriate for very young children who are too small to use an adult seat belt safely.
Requiring a Booster Seat
- Children must continue to use a booster seat in the back seat until they meet the following weight and height requirements:
- When the child sits with their entire back against the vehicle seat, their knees should bend comfortably over the front edge of the seat.
- When the child is using a harness or harness/tether system, the lap belt should cross over the upper legs or hips, and the shoulder belt should rest on the child's shoulder or collarbone, avoiding contact with the face or neck.
- The child should maintain the correct seating position during the entire trip.
Safety Measures
- The second sentence of this article states that child passenger restraints are not an option but are the law, meaning that all children must be equipped with an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle until they reach the age of eight.
- booster seats raise a child up so that the safety belt fits them correctly and provides better protection.
- booster seats should not be used with only a lap belt, as this may result in serious injuries to a child.
Legal Consequences
- drivers who fail to restraining a child in a car seat, safety seat, or booster seat, could be fined an amount ranging from $25 to $100 and receive three driver’s license penalty points for each occurrence.
- Receiving six or more points in 18 months will result in a Driver Responsibility Assessment fee of $100 per year for three years.
By enacting these laws, New York State aims to protect children from injury and tragic accidents on the road, ensuring that they travel to school, soccer practice, and other activities in complete safety. Parents and guardians are encouraged to consult with child safety professionals and refer to the state's transportation safety resource guide to choose the right child restraint system for their child.
