Children YOUNGER THAN 4 YEARS OF AGE must be properly secured in a car safety seat.
Children AGES 4 THROUGH 17 must be properly secured in a car safety seat or buckled correctly in a seat belt.
Car safety seats must meet U.S. Department of Transportation safety standards and must be used according to the manufacturers instructions.
The law is for ALL DRIVERS, and the driver is responsible for assuring that all children through age 17 are buckled up in the appropriate restraint.
The law applies to all seating positions FRONT SEAT AND BACK SEAT.
Penalty for violating this law is ONE POINT assessed against the drivers license.
The North Dakota Department of Health provides the following recommendations for child passengers:
Babies should ride in rear-facing car seats until they are age 1 and weigh 20 pounds.
Toddlers older than age 1 and weighing more than 20 pounds should ride in forward-facing car seats until they weigh 40 pounds.
Children who weigh between 40 and 60 to 80 pounds should use auto booster seats.
Children who weigh more than 60 to 80 pounds should use seat belts, using both the lap and shoulder belts.
For more information, call:
North Dakota Department of Health
Injury Prevention Program
1-800-472-2286