New York Adult And Child Seat Belt Laws

All back seat passengers under the age of four must be restrained in a “specially designed seat” which meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.  Anyone who purchases a seat should look for a stamp or seal or tag or other notice certifying it as meeting such standards.  People should also be careful when it comes to installation.  This is something you want done correctly.  Check with a local police precinct–there is often someone available to assist with and/or confirm proper installation.

If the child is under four but exceeds 40lbs, a booster seat appropriate for the height/weight of the child should be used in combination with the usual lap safety and shoulder harness belt.  The law also allows in this scenario for just a lap belt to be used if the car is not equipped with the combination lap/shoulder belts or all the lap/shoulder belts are being used by other passengers under the age of sixteen.

If the child is four or over but under eight years of age, see above–same rules as the child under four but over 40lbs.

If the child is eight or over but under sixteen years of age, the child/teenager must be strapped in using the regular seatbelt(s) in the car.

While the back of the vehicle is the safer spot for any passenger, if a child must ride in the front passenger seat the rules are essentially the same as they are for the back.