Child seat safety laws in North Carolina
In North Carolina, by law, every person in a vehicle must either wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a child seat. It's just common sense because restrictions save lives. Whether you are a North Carolina resident or just passing through the state, you need to know and follow child seat safety laws.
Summary of North Carolina Child Seat Safety Laws
Child seat safety laws in North Carolina can be summarized as follows:
Each person in the vehicle must wear a seat belt or child seat.
It is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle to ensure that all persons under the age of 16 are properly secured, whether they are related to younger passengers or not.
Children under the age of 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds must sit in an extra seat or be secured in a child restraint system.
Children over 8 years of age or weighing 80 pounds and above can be secured with a lap and shoulder harness.
Boosters with adjustable straps cannot only be used with a waist strap if a shoulder strap is included. If a shoulder belt is not available, then only the lap belt can be used, provided the child weighs at least 40 pounds.
Child seat safety laws apply to any passenger vehicle, whether it is registered in North Carolina or any other state.
Fines
Anyone who violates child seat safety laws in North Carolina can be fined $25 plus an additional $188 in legal fees. Deficiencies can also be assessed on the violator's driver's license.
Don't risk your child's safety - make sure they are properly restrained in accordance with North Carolina child seat safety laws.
