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Frequently Asked Questions
Child Passenger Safety Seat Law Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exemptions to the law?
There are four exemptions to this law:
- Ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
- Vehicles not required by federal standards to be equipped with seat bealts. This includes cars made before 1968 and pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans made before 1972, and large buses.
- Children may be left unbuckled if all belted seating positions are occupied. The difficult decision for the driver is to choose which children will ride unprotected. Plan carpools by counting the number of belts that each vehicle provides.
- Children may be removed from their seats to "tend to personal needs" such as nursing or changing a diaper. However, children have been killed when taken out of their seats for "just a minute." Instead, find a safe place to pull over, stop the car, and then tend to the child's needs.
Who is responsible for the children in a car and what are the penalties if I don't comply with this law?
The driver is responsible for obeying the law and would get the ticket even if the child's parent is also in the car. Violations carry a penalty of up to $25.00 plus court costs (currently about $85). As of December 1, 2000, two driver license points will also be assessed for violations. Of course, the worst possible outcome of non-compliance would be a crash in which a child is seriously injured or killed because of not being buckled up.
Can safety seats be safely and legally used on side-facing seats in a truck cab or station wagon?
This is illegal since the NC law requires use of the restraint system according to the manufacutrer's instructions, all of which specify that the safety seats should not be used in side-facing seats.
Are school buses included under this law?
Federal standards do not require seat belts on large school buses. The larger buses do not have seat belts because they rely on strong, well-padded, energy absorbing seats and higher seat backs to "compartmentalize" and protect passengers during a crash. Seat belts are required on small school buses (under 10,000 lbs) and children being transported in these smaller buses are covered under this law.
Can I let my children ride in the back of a pickup truck?
In most cases this will be illegal as well as extremely dangerous. A separate NC law prohibits children less than age twelve from riding in the open bed of a pickup truck unless there is an adult present supervising the child; if the child is secured in a seat belt installed in a manner approved by the Commissioner of motor vehicles; if an emergency exists, if the truck is being used in a parade or for agricultural purposes; or if the truck is being operated in a county with no incorporated area of a population greated than 3,500.
Can I use a car seat purchased at a yard sale or thrift shop?
This is not recommended. Often seats are missing parts, damaged, or on recall. There is no way to check them throughly without the complete manufacturer's instruction booklet. They may even have invisible damage from a crash. *When in doubt, don't! When the safety of your child is at stake, the purchase of a brand new safety seat may be the REAL bargain.*
Do I always have to use that metal locking clip that comes with the car seat?
Some one-piece lap or lap/shoulder belts stay loose except in a crash or sudden stop, but some have a feature allowing them to be locked. Pull the belt out until it goes no farther. Let the belt roll back, and it should lock every inch or so. If the belt doesn't have such a locking feature, you can use a metal locking clip to keep this belt tight. Many new safety seats will have these clips attached to the side or to the bottom. You can also buy them in stores that sell safety seats or order them from safety seat markers.
Does it matter how old the seat is as long as it is in good shape?
Most manufacturers recommend replacing a car seat that is older than six years. Plastic deteriorates in time and there may be fine hairlines which could become cracks under stress. Never use a safety seat that is more than ten years old.
Is it important to send the registration card back to the manufacturer after a new seat is purchased?
Always send the registration card back to the manufacturer as soon as possible! This is the only way the company can make contact with you if a problem develops with that particular safety seat. If you currently own a seat that was not registered with the manufacturer when it was purchased, call the company and register the safety seat.
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