FREQUENTLY-ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA’S CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY LAWWhat is the current law?
Children younger than 7 must ride in a child restraint (car safety seat or
booster seat) – following the manufacturer’s instructions. Children 7 through 17
must ride in a child restraint or seat belt. The law applies to all vehicles
that were equipped with seat belts when manufactured. The driver is responsible
for ensuring all occupants younger than 18 are buckled up in the appropriate
restraint. The penalty for the violation of this law is $25 and one point
against the license of the driver. The law is primary enforcement, meaning the
driver can be stopped for having an unrestrained child younger than 18 in the
vehicle.
What if the car has lap-only seat belts?
Booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belts. A lap belt
may be used by children who weigh more than 40 pounds who ride in vehicles
with lap-only seat belts or if all lap and shoulder belts are used by other
occupants.
Can
a 3-year-old ride in a booster seat?
Yes. Booster seats are considered to be car safety seats if they meet Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. However, the booster seat must be used according
to the manufacturer’s instructions, so be sure the child is the appropriate
weight for the booster seat.
What about seat belt
adjusters? Can they be used in place of a car seat?
No. Seat belt adjusters do not meet the intent of the law and should not be
used to make a seat belt fit better. Regardless of how these products are
labeled, they do not meet any government safety standard. They may help with
shoulder belt comfort, but may put too much slack in the shoulder belt or cause
the lap belt to ride up over the stomach.
What about school buses?
Are they covered under the law?
School buses are not covered under the child passenger safety law, unless
they were equipped with seat belts when they were manufactured.