{"id":1444,"date":"2023-11-11T10:11:26","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T10:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/?p=1444"},"modified":"2023-12-13T07:49:40","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T07:49:40","slug":"north-carolina-car-seat-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/north-carolina-car-seat-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Car Seat Laws (2024) -Age, Weight, Height Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
According to the North Carolina State Law, children younger than 8 years old and weighing less than 80 pounds should be properly restrained in an appropriate child passenger restraint system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNorth Carolina Legislature Laws G.S. 20-137.1(a1) read as: \n\"Every driver who is transporting one or more passengers of less than 16 years of age shall have all such passengers properly secured in a child passenger restraint system or seat belt which meets federal standards applicable at the time of its manufacture.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorth Carolina State Regulations<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRear-Facing\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNorth Carolina Rear-facing Car Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tForward-Facing\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNorth Carolina Forward facing Car Seat Rules\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBooster\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNorth Carolina Booster Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFront Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen can child sit in front seat North Carolina\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCar Seats List\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBest car seat to meet North Carolina laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUS Car Seat Laws\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSeat Laws across the United States\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNorth Carolina Rear-Facing Car Seat Laws<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccording to the regulations in \u00a7 20-137.1, the NC law does not say the age, weight, or height requirements on the rear-facing car seats<\/a>. It only requires a child to use a child’s safety seat based on the weight.<\/p>
For this case, the best practice is always to follow the rules of AAP and NHTSA. Keep your children in the rear-facing car seat for as long as they exceed the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.<\/p>
Infant-only seats have a weight limit between 30-35 pounds and a height limit between 30-32 inches. They are able to ride infants to 12 months or 18 months<\/a>.<\/p>
Convertible and all-in-one car seats have higher weight and height limits for a longer period of time to stay rear-facing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNorth Carolina Forward Facing Car Seat Laws <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen can a baby face forward in a car seat in North Carolina?<\/strong><\/p>
After a child reaches the height and weight limit of the rear-facing seat, turn them to the forward-facing. The North Carolina law does not say much about forward-facing car seats<\/a>.<\/p>
According to the AAP and NHTSA rule, it’s better for a child to keep staying in the forward-facing car seat until they outgrow the weight or height limit<\/a>.<\/p>
Most car seats have a forward-facing weight limit of 65 pounds and a height limit of 57 inches. That means your child can stay in a forward-facing car seat until age 5-7.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tChild Booster Seat Laws in North Carolina<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the age and weight of a booster seat in NC?<\/strong><\/p>
The NC law does not say the age and weight requirements for a booster seat<\/a>. But it’s natural to use a booster seat after the child has reached the forward-facing seat\u2019s limits.<\/p>
It’s best to keep your child in a booster seat until the lap and shoulder belts fit properly, typically between 8 and 12 years old with a weight of 80 pounds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSeat Belt Laws for Child in North Carolina<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChildren aged 8 through 16 should be secured a seat belt or a child restraint system if the seat belt does not fit properly.<\/p>
Exceptions<\/b><\/p>
If no seating position equipped with a lap and shoulder belt to properly secure the weight-appropriate child passenger restraint system is available, a child less than eight years of age and between 40 and 80 pounds may be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPenalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in North Carolina<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tViolating the North Dakota law causes a heavy penalty, including:<\/br>\n
\n \t
- fine not to exceed $25<\/li>\n \t
- Full court costs apply ($263)<\/li>\n \t
- Two driver license points<\/li>\n \t
- No insurance points<\/li>\n \t
- No conviction if a child is less than four and proof presented at trial that CRD has been acquired since a violation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNorth Carolina Car Seat Laws Apply for<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe drivers are responsible for all children less than sixteen to be secured.<\/p>
Exceptions<\/b><\/p>
Vehicles not required to have belts (such as cars made before 1968 and pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans made before 1972, and large buses)<\/p>
- Ambulances and other emergency vehicles<\/li>
- If a child’s “personal needs” are being tended to<\/li>
- If all seating positions with belts are occupied<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhen can a child sit in the front seat in North Carolina?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccording to the NC law, your child must sit in the back seat until they are 5 years old and weigh 40 pounds.<\/p>
However, it is not recommended to place your child in the front seat in a rush after the child is 5 years and weighs more than 40 pounds because the seat belt would not fit your child properly at this time.<\/p>
Experts from AAP and NHTSA at child safety recommend that your child sits in the back seat until they are 13.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTaxi Car Seat Law in North Carolina<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTaxis are required to follow child restraint laws and they aren\u2019t exempt like some other states.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAge, Weight, Height Requirements in North Carolina Law<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe North Carolina laws don’t state the age<\/a>, weight, and height requirements<\/a> based on four car seat stages, but say as below:<\/p>
A child passenger restraint system is required for children less than 8 years of age<\/strong> and less than 80 pounds<\/strong>.<\/p>
A child who is less than 5 years old<\/strong> and less than 40 pounds<\/strong> in weight should be secured in a rear seat.<\/p>
Children younger than 8 years of age<\/strong> and between 40 to 80 pounds<\/strong> MAY be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only when the seating position is not equipped with a lap and shoulder belt.<\/p>
Children under 16 years old<\/strong> should be restrained in a weight-appropriate child passenger restraint system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t