A properly used child restraint system (CRD) is required if the child is under 8 years of age and weighs less than 80 pounds. Most parents and other caregivers can stick to it by using belt positioning seats for children weighing between 40 and 80 pounds. The child must be within the weight range of the child restraint systems and booster seat and meet the federal standards in effect at the time of manufacture. The first law entered into force on 1 July 1982 and expired on 30 June 1985. Meanwhile, interest in child safety became more evident and changes were made to the original law in line with research conducted by HSRC, which would increase the safety and protection of children in a motor vehicle. According to the reintroduced law, the age of children who must be placed in a security institution has been increased to 4 years. Through ongoing research and evaluation, and passionate advocacy by advocates for strict child safety laws, North Carolina`s law has evolved into what it is today: some manufacturers allow children to advance the face as young as 1 year old, as long as they weigh at least 22 pounds. while other manufacturers require toddlers to be at least 2 years old. to move the face forward. “Every driver carrying one or more passengers under 16 years of age shall have all such passengers properly fastened in a child restraint system or seat belt that complies with the federal standards in effect at the time of manufacture.” Once your child has reached the height and weight limit of the rear-facing seat, switch them to the rear-facing seat. However, it should be noted that using a front-end device is a step backwards in terms of safety. Use the rear-facing device for as long as possible. Children under the age of 16 seated in front or rear seats are subject to the NC Child Passenger Safety Act.
The map below currently shows the laws regarding child passenger safety and seat belts. Other child safety laws will follow shortly. North Carolina does not specify how long children should be facing back. At a minimum, parents should follow the instructions of the manufacturer of their specific car seat (called “proper use”). Current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics are that children should remain rear-facing to the limits of their convertible car seat. Almost all convertible car seats today can accommodate children up to 40 pounds (they have varying size restrictions, so read your manual) – the height of an average 4-year-old – rear-facing. If you`re planning a family trip to North Carolina, it`s important that you meet (or exceed) local child passenger safety laws. Booster seats can only be used with laps and shoulder straps. They can NEVER be used with only a lap belt.
A child who weighs at least 40 pounds can only be legally restrained with a properly fitted lap belt if a lap and shoulder harness is not available for use with a booster seat, but this is not considered the safest option. You can find North Carolina`s official car seat law in G.S. 20-137.1. As you can see, NC car seat laws fall far behind our current understanding of child occupant safety. Therefore, taxis must have a car seat that matches the age and weight of the child. This can be a rear-facing, forward-facing, booster or all-in-one seat. It must be installed safely according to the manufacturer`s instructions. The NC car seat laws have not been updated since 2004 and do not reflect our current understanding of child occupant safety. I hope they catch up soon! Although the law does not require it, research shows that children should ride in a strapped car seat (whether facing back or forward) until the age of at least 5.40 pounds and mature enough to sit properly throughout the journey. Children under 5 years of age and weighing less than 40 pounds must be restrained in the rear seat if the vehicle is equipped with a passenger-side airbag and a rear seat. In North Carolina, there is no law that leaves a child in a vehicle. Although there is no specific law on the subject, prosecutors can still initiate criminal proceedings under existing laws on child endangerment.
North Carolina`s Child Passenger Safety Act applies to all vehicles that must wear their seat belts in accordance with federal standards. This includes all passenger cars manufactured after 1967, as well as vans, pickup trucks and SUVs manufactured after 1971. A properly operated car seat or booster seat is required for children under 8 years of age and under 80 pounds. The law does not specify what type of car seat can be used at any age or weight, only that the seat is used correctly according to the manufacturer`s instructions and meets all federal safety standards that applied when the seat was manufactured. But you can make a difference from these stats by protecting your kids while driving. We`ve compiled a list of laws and safety information for North Carolina parents to make sure your kids are safe: North Carolina law requires your child to sit in the back seat until age 5 and weigh 40 pounds. However, this is not recommended as the seat belt would not fit your child properly. Child safety experts recommend that your child sit in the back seat until the age of 13. Regardless of size, the NC Car Seat Act requires children to ride in a car seat or booster seat until they are at least 8 or 80 pounds old. Be sure to follow the manufacturer`s minimum and maximum size requirements for your booster seat – most manufacturers now require you to be at least 4 years old, 40″ tall and 40 pounds. North Carolina`s child seat belt law does not apply to cars made before 1968 and light trucks and vans made before 1972. They also do not apply in the case of a certified medical condition.
A booster seat with a high backrest or a booster seat without a backrest must be secured with a lap belt and shoulder harness. If there is no sitting position with a knee pad and shoulder strap, a child under 8 years of age weighing between 40 and 80 pounds can only be restrained by a lap belt. North Carolina`s booster seat requirements do not apply to ambulances or other emergency vehicles, or vehicles that are not required to wear seat belts under federal law.