Car seat laws in New Jersey: What to know, where to get car seats checked

 

OK, Baby, buckle up and let’s hit the road!

We parents plop our little ones into car seats so many times it that it quickly becomes second nature. But are we doing it correctly? And is Baby or Toddler in the right-sized seat? How long do children need to use a car seat or booster anyway?

New Jersey modified its Child Passenger Restraint Law in 2015, increasing the amount of time a baby must ride in a rear-facing car seat.

All children who are under 8 years old and under 57 inches need to use a car seat. The kind of car seat required varies depending on age, weight and height.

Keep in mind that the law applies even if a child is riding in someone else’s car, so you’ll need to get a car seat for grandparents or babysitters who drive with your child. 

Also, and this might seem obvious, children should ride in the back seat. If there are no rear seats, such as in a pick-up truck, New Jersey law states that the child still must be secured in an appropriate car seat and, if the child uses a rear-facing car seat, the passenger-side airbag must be de-activated.

Here’s what else you need to know about car seat laws in New Jersey:

1. Rear-facing car seats:

Babies under the age of 2 years, weighing under 30 pounds, regardless of height, must be secured in a rear-facing seat equipped with a five-point harness. Toddlers and pre-schoolers under the age of 4 years, weighing under 40 pounds, should stay in the rear-facing seat until they reach the upper weight limit, and then should be switched to a front-facing car seat, also with a five-point harness. 

2. Front-facing car seats:

Children who have outgrown rear-facing seats should ride in front-facing seats with a five-point harness until they are 8 years-old OR 57 inches. If they reach the upper limits of a car seat’s capacity, as established by the manufacturer, but are still younger than 8 or under 57 inches, kids must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. 

3. Booster seats:

Kids who have outgrown car seats must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 8 years old or 57 inches tall. Then they can use a regular seat belt.

4. Front seat:

New Jersey law does not dictate when a child can ride in the front seat of a car. Federal recommendations, under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, advise waiting until a child is 13 before letting him or her ride shotgun.  

Still confused? Not sure if your car seat is installed correctly?

You can get your car seat inspected, free of charge, at locations throughout the state. For a statewide list, go to nj.gov. Here are a few places to get you started:

MONMOUTH COUNTY

New Jersey State Police
Child Passenger Safety Station
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
1945 NJ Route 33, Neptune
Hours: 3 to 7 p.m., first Tuesday of each month 
No appointment needed. 
732-776-4515

OCEAN COUNTY

Community Training Associates
101 Cayuga Lake Drive, Little Egg Harbor
By appointment only: 609-277-3015

Ocean County & Manchester Township Police Partnership
Child Passenger Safety Station
Ridgeway Fire Department
Route 571, Manchester.
Hours: 4 to 8 p.m., first Wednesday of each month
    
Ocean County & Toms River Township Police Partnership
Child Passenger Safety Station
Silverton Firehouse, 15 Kettle Creek Road, Toms River
Hours: 1 to 5 p.m., second and fourth Thursday of each month

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Middlesex County Child Safety Seat Station on the Rutgers University Campus
129 Davidson Road, Piscataway
Hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
732-932-1368.

BERGEN COUNTY

Bergen County Sheriff’s Department
327 E. Ridgewood Ave., Paramus
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., first Tuesday each month
By appointment only: ChildCarSeat@bcsd.us

Paramus Life Safety Complex
46 E. Century Road, Paramus
Hours: 9 a.m. to noon, third Friday each month
No appointment needed.
schoolandtrafficsafetyunit@gw.njsp.org    

HUNTERDON COUNTY

Hunterdon County Child Safety Seat Check
County Complex
314 State Rt 12, Flemington
Hours: 5 to 8 p.m., second and fourth Tuesday of each month
For more information, call Detective Kelsey Marsh: 908-788-1129

MERCER COUNTY

Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
Child Passenger Safety Check
Colonial Fire Co., 801 Kuser Road., Hamilton
Hours: 4:30 to 8 p.m., last Tuesday each month, except December
609-278-7159

MORRIS COUNTY

Morris-Essex Child Safety Seat Education Station
120 Dorsa Ave., Livingston
September through May: 9 a.m. to  2:30 p.m. Wednesdays
June, July and August: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Weather Permitting
973-971-6477

Florham Park Co. #1 Firehouse
Brooklake Road, Florham Park
Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, second Thursday of each month
973-410-5437

Morris – Warren Child Safety Seat Education Station
Chester First Aid Squad
100 North Road, Chester
(follow driveway to the Squad Building at rear)
Hours: 2 to 6 p.m., first Tuesday of each month; 7 a.m. to noon, third Thursday of each month
908-879-5560
    
Shade Tree Garage
171 Washington St., Morristown
Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, second Saturday of each month; 5 to 8 p.m., third Tuesday of each month
973-540-9880

SOMERSET COUNTY

Somerset County Child Safety Seat Station
Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company #2,
375 Route 206, Hillsborough
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., first Saturday of each month; 3 to 6 p.m., third Wednesday of each month
No appointment needed 
908-541-5709 or www.sctrafficsafety.com

UNION COUNTY

Union County Child Safety Seat Station
Provided by the Union County Police Department
Garwood First Aid Squad
401 Second Ave., Garwood
Hours: 7:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays
No appointment required
908-789-6830

WARREN COUNTY

Morris – Warren Child Safety Seat Education Station
Chester First Aid Squad
100 North Road, Chester
(follow driveway to the Squad Building at rear)
Hours: 2 to 6 p.m., first Tuesday of each month; 7 a.m. to noon, third Thursday of each month
908-879-5560

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