Child Seats

Effective March 27, 2005, New York State joins twenty-eight other states to upgrade their child occupant protection laws to address the transportation needs of older children. The new law requires the use of booster seats or other appropriate child restraint systems for four, five and six year olds. A child restraint system is a device that is used in conjunction with safety belts, designed to restrain, seat or position a child in a motor vehicle and meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. These systems may include a child safety seat, harness/vest or booster seat which when used appropriately must meet the child's height, weight, and size recommendations of the manufacturer. A booster seat must be used with a lap AND shoulder belt. Previously, the law required children in this age group to use only adult safety belts placing them at increased risk of injury and death.

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