Starting Tuesday, there will be new rules for how you secure your child in the back seat. The new law states all children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system until their 8th birthday. A seat belt alone does not count. A child safety seat, harness, vest, or booster seat are acceptable.
State Police say properly buckling up a child reduces their risk of being killed in a crash by 33%.
Read the New York State Police news release below for full details on restraints and safety tips:
Seat belts save lives and help prevent serious injuries in a traffic crash. This is why New York State requires seat belt use by adults in motor vehicles. and seat belts. booster seats. or child safety seats for children.
New York is a "primary enforcement" state. A law enforcement officer can issue a traffic ticket just for failure to wear a seat belt. A ticket can be issued to the driver who fails to make sure a child passenger is properly secured in a safety seat or with a seat belt. This law also applies to visitors from outside New York State.
Every child under age 16 in the vehicle must use a safety restraint. If under age four, he or she must be properly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat that is attached to a vehicle by a safety belt or universal child restraint anchorage (LATCH) system.
- Note: As of November 24, 2009, this requirement applies to all children until their 8th birthday.
All children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle until their 8th birthday.
- An appropriate child restraint system is one that meets the child's size and weight and the specifications of the manufacturer.
- A child restraint system may be a child safety seat, harness, vest or a booster seat.
- The vehicle's safety belt alone is NOT a child restraint system.
- Booster seats MUST be used with a lap and a shoulder belt.
- Children 12 years and younger should ride in the back seat. The simple task of properly buckling up children in the back seat reduces the risk of being killed in a crash by 33%.
Before moving your child from a booster seat to the vehicle seat belts please make sure that your child meets all of the following requirements for a proper seat belt fit:
- Your child must be 8 years old.
- Your child should be able to sit with his or her back straight against the vehicle seat back.
- The knees bent comfortably at the seat's edge without slouching.
- The lap belt should be low across the upper thighs or hips, not across the abdomen.
- The shoulder belt should lie across the chest and shoulder, not touching the neck or face.
- Your child should be able to ride this way for the entire trip.
- It is recommended that booster seats be used until your child is 4'9" tall or weighs 100 lbs.
or contact Troop D Traffic Safety Office at (315) 366-6032.
