Nevadans reminded of state law on child safety seats

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office would like to inform the motoring public of a Nevada law regarding child safety seats.

NRS 484B.157 is a law that was enacted to protect children who are riding in a motor vehicle with you.

Child safety seats are designed to attach to a seat in the vehicle; preferably the rear seat of a vehicle by anchors and tethers or by existing seat belts. The back seat is the safest place to ride for all children under age 13.

But not all cars allow for a car seat in every place that has a seat belt. Check your car owner manual to see where you can put a car safety seat.

Make sure that the car seat or booster seat for each child riding in the car is in the best possible place. The seat belt and latch system are both safe, but don’t use both at the same time. Choose the one that gives the car seat a snug fit.

Once the car seat is installed there should not be more than one inch of wiggle room.

Most vehicle manufacture seat belts are designed to be worn by adults. Children who are not properly secured in a DOT approved seat risk substantial bodily harm or death due to where the seat belt strap rests on their body.

According to safekids.org children, 0 to 1 year should always ride in a rear-facing seat. Children 1 to 3 years should ride rear-facing as long as possible. The child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

Children 4 to 7 should be kept in a forward-facing car seat with a harness unit they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Children 8 to 12 years should be kept in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.

Installing a car seat can be quite simple. It is recommended to always read the car seat manual along with the vehicle manufacturer recommendations.

If assistance is ever needed, please call the Carson City Sheriff’s Office as we have several deputies that are certified Safety Seat Technicians that can assist you.

You can always go here to download car seat and booster seat recommendations.

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FULL NRS

NRS 484B.157  Child less than 6 years of age and weighing 60 pounds or less to be secured in child restraint system while being transported in a motor vehicle; requirements for system; penalties; programs of training; waiver or reduction of penalty under certain circumstances; application of section.
      1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, any person who is transporting a child who is less than 6 years of age and who weighs 60 pounds or less in a motor vehicle operated in this State which is equipped to carry passengers shall secure the child in a child restraint system which:
      (a) Has been approved by the United States Department of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 571;
      (b) Is appropriate for the size and weight of the child; and
      (c) Is installed within and attached safely and securely to the motor vehicle:
             (1) In accordance with the instructions for installation and attachment provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system; or
             (2) In another manner that is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
      2.  If a defendant pleads or is found guilty of violating the provisions of subsection 1, the court shall:
      (a) For a first offense, order the defendant to pay a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 or order the defendant to perform not less than 10 hours or more than 50 hours of community service;
      (b) For a second offense, order the defendant to pay a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,000 or order the defendant to perform not less than 50 hours or more than 100 hours of community service; and
      (c) For a third or subsequent offense, suspend the driver’s license of the defendant for not less than 30 days or more than 180 days.
      3.  At the time of sentencing, the court shall provide the defendant with a list of persons and agencies approved by the Department of Public Safety to conduct programs of training and perform inspections of child restraint systems. The list must include, without limitation, an indication of the fee, if any, established by the person or agency pursuant to subsection 4. If, within 60 days after sentencing, a defendant provides the court with proof of satisfactory completion of a program of training provided for in this subsection, the court shall:
      (a) If the defendant was sentenced pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 2, waive the fine or community service previously imposed; or
(b) If the defendant was sentenced pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 2, reduce by one-half the fine or community service previously imposed.
Ê A defendant is only eligible for a reduction of a fine or community service pursuant to paragraph (b) if the defendant has not had a fine or community service waived pursuant to paragraph (a).
      4.  A person or agency approved by the Department of Public Safety to conduct programs of training and perform inspections of child restraint systems may, in cooperation with the Department, establish a fee to be paid by defendants who are ordered to complete a program of training. The amount of the fee, if any:
      (a) Must be reasonable; and
      (b) May, if a defendant desires to acquire a child restraint system from such a person or agency, include the cost of a child restraint system provided by the person or agency to the defendant.
Ê A program of training may not be operated for profit.
      5.  For the purposes of NRS 483.473, a violation of this section is not a moving traffic violation.
      6.  A violation of this section may not be considered:
      (a) Negligence in any civil action; or
      (b) Negligence or reckless driving for the purposes of NRS 484B.653.
      7.  This section does not apply:
      (a) To a person who is transporting a child in a means of public transportation, including a taxi, school bus or emergency vehicle.
      (b) When a physician determines that the use of such a child restraint system for the particular child would be impractical or dangerous because of such factors as the child’s weight, physical unfitness or medical condition. In this case, the person transporting the child shall carry in the vehicle the signed statement of the physician to that effect.
      8.  As used in this section, “child restraint system” means any device that is designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat or position children. The term includes, without limitation:
      (a) Booster seats and belt-positioning seats that are designed to elevate or otherwise position a child so as to allow the child to be secured with a safety belt;
      (b) Integrated child seats; and
      (c) Safety belts that are designed specifically to be adjusted to accommodate children.

      (Added to NRS by 1983, 1888; A 1985, 1170, 2293; 1995, 1528; 2003, 2079; 2005, 119;
2007, 1026) — (Substituted in revision for NRS 484.474)

Information in this article was provided by safekids.org and Nevada Law Library.