Nevada Child Restraint Laws

Arizona, Florida and South Dakota are the only states without booster seat laws.child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com

The proper use of a child car seat or a booster can save a child's life. It's imperative that parents learn local child restraint laws and apply them to their children. All 50 states, including Nevada, require safety car seats for children under a certain height and weight. But having them in the car is not enough. They must be properly installed. Child safety seats are shown to reduce fatalities by 71 percent, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics.

Child Car Seat Safety

The Nevada Department of Public Safety guidelines state that infants weighing 20 lbs. and under must be placed in rear-facing infant seats in the back seat of the automobile. At age 1 and at a weight more than 20 lbs., the child can be moved to a forward-facing seat, but the back seat is still the safest place for a child in a car seat. The airbag in the front passenger seat can severely injure children.

According to the Nevada Department of Public Safety children who weigh more than 40 lbs. but less than 60 lbs., and are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall should be restrained in a booster seat. The booster raises the child enough that the seat belt will be positioned across the thighs and chest properly, which reduces the risk of injuries caused by seat belts. Unless a child is tall enough to sit in the car with his knees bent at the edge of the seat, without slouching, he's required to be in a booster.

The state of Nevada recommends that any child 12 years old and under be properly restrained in the back seat of the automobile. A child's knees should bend properly at the edge of the seat and the child should sit up straight against the back seat. The lap belt should be positioned low on the hips and fit snug. The shoulder strap should not lie on the neck and should be snug against the chest between the neck and shoulder.

The Governor's Highway Safety Association states that violating Nevada's child restraint laws will require the offender to complete a Department of Public Safety-approved training program on car seat use and installation. Offenders will also be required to pay a minimum fine of $50, but no more than $500 and/or complete stated hours of community service.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety recommends that parents always read the owners manual and follow all instructions when installing a child car seat. Take the car seat to a permanent fitting station or a child safety seat check event to make sure that the seat is installed properly.

Even if the booster seat is empty, the driver should fasten it with the seat belt to keep it secure in the event of a sudden stop or an accident.

The child seat with the full harness system provide more protection and may be used as long as the child fits comfortably, for maximum protection. Check the owner's manual for guidelines.