What are the rules and regulations regarding car seat safety in NJ if I want to take a 6month old in a cab/bus

Question

I want to know all about the laws in NJ if I want to carry a 6 month old baby in a taxi. I read somewhere that New York taxis are exempt from car seat laws and you can carry the infant/toddler on your lap but what about NJ. Where can I find the official information

Answer 1

Taxicabs are exempt from the child safety seat law in most states. I suggest calling any cab company in New Jersey to see if they are included.

Answer 2

Child Safety Seat Law

If you’re traveling anywhere in the United States, you are required by law to have children up to three years of age ride in a child safety seat.

Even more stringent are requirements in states like California and Oregon, which require children under six years in age or 60 pounds in weight to ride in appropriate child safety seats.

Some states like New Jersey and North Carolina require car seats for a child who is under eight years old and under 80 pounds.

Fines can vary state to state from $10 to $200.

Try these sites...............

http://www.inventiveparent.com/lawsreg2....

http://www.babycenter.com/404_should-i-u...

Answer 3

Law in NJ:

http://www.inventiveparent.com/lawsreg2....

It says seats are required in all vehicles except public buses. So the 6 months old needs a seat. The bigger issue, however, is that a 6 month old baby needs a car seat in EVERY vehicle for EVERY trip no matter how long or short, no matter what state. That baby will be hurt just as much in a taxi as in your personal vehicle. Is it convenient? Not particular. But I'll be achingly blunt - how convenient would a funeral for a baby be? The laws of physics do not suddenly change just b/c baby is riding in a taxi rather than a family SUV or sedan. And a 6 month old not in a car seat is a death waiting to happen.

So - required by law in NJ, not in NY, though what a stupid rule. :(

Best bet? Get a seat that travels well, is light weight and/or installs easily. At the least expensive end of the spectrum is the Cosco Scenera, $45 at Walmart/Target/Kmart. Lightweight, generally installs easily. Its major benefit is that is rear faces to 35lbs, very important since kids should stay rear facing as long as possible. Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!

1)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.

2)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.

3)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.

4)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)

The Scenera doesn't last very long once the child outgrows it rear facing, most kids outgrow it forward facing by 2-3 years, but for $45 its still a great deal.

The Britax Marathon is the easiest car seat to install, but more pricey (Target has them on sale this week for $229) and heavier to tote around. But definitely the easiest which makes it more convenient. I could get ours in any car in under 2 minutes forward facing, 5 minutes for rear facing. Very simple. Get a Traveling Toddler Travelmate or GoGoKidz to attach to it to make it a little easier to tote around since its heavier.

Either way - baby needs a seat everywhere you go. Including on airplanes!