SafeKids.org

North Carolina State Child Occupant Protection Law

Effective Date
01/01/2005

Law Mandate


Infants through children age 7 and weighing less than 80 pounds must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat in all seating positions.

Children ages 7 and under and between 40-80 pounds may be restrained by a lap safety belt only if there is no lap and shoulder belt system present.

Children ages 15 and under must be restrained in some manner regardless of seating position.*

Children ages 4 and under and less than 40 pounds must occupy the back seat if there is an active front passenger-side air bag (unless the child is restrained in a child safety seat designed for use with air bags).

When North Carolina does mandate restraint use, it requires the driver to secure both the child safety seat and the child properly.

Safety belt law covers all occupants in front seating positions.

Primary enforcement.

By Cat on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 11:53 am:

Good grief, my 9yo only weighs 55lbs! My 11yo barely weighs 80lbs! That's on a good day. They are getting tall enough (finally!) to ride in some spots of our cars without boosters, though.

By Marcia on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 10:33 pm:

"Children ages 15 and under must be restrained in some manner regardless of seating position.*"


Does that mean that adults don't have to be?? That's scary!