New York State law requires all children to be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle, until they reach their 8th birthday. Effective November 1, 2019, all children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Rear-Facing – Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, but at least until the age of 2. If a child outgrows the weight or height limit of the seat, then a convertible or all-in-one car seat should be used in the rear-facing position until the child outgrows the weight or height limit set by the car seat manufacturer.
Forward-Facing – Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
Booster Seats – Use a belt positioning booster seat when your child’s weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for the car seat. Keep your child in a booster seat until the lap and shoulder belts fit properly, typically between 8 and 12 years old.
Seat Belts – Use a lap and shoulder belt when the seat belts fit your child properly. The lap belt should be low and snug across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the chest and shoulder.
New York State law requires children ages 8 to 15 to use safety belts when riding in motor vehicles. The use of appropriate child restraint systems, such as belt positioning booster seats is permitted as adult seat belts may not properly fit some children in this age group if they are less than 4’9” tall. All children under age 13 should ride in the backseat as per the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
Per the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, effective November 1, 2020, all motor vehicle passengers aged 16 and older must be restrained by a seat belt. Backseat passengers in a taxi or livery who are 16 years of age or older must be restrained by a seat belt. And lastly, all passengers in a taxi or livery who are 8-15 years of age must be restrained by a seat belt.
