Nebraska Child Safety Restraint Law
(effective January 1, 2019)
- All children up to age eight must ride correctly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat.
- Children ride rear-facing until up to age two or until they reach the upper weight or height limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer.
- Children under age eight must ride in the back seat, as long as there is a back seat equipped with a seatbelt and is not already occupied by other children under eight years of age.
- Children ages eight to eighteen must ride secured in a safety belt or child safety seat (booster seat).
- Childcare providers must transport all children securely in an appropriate federally-approved child safety seat or safety belt.
- Children up to age eighteen are prohibited from riding in cargo areas.
- Violation carries a $25 fine plus court costs and 1 point is assessed against the operator’s driving record.
For more information and handout items click on the following:
Car Seat Check Events
Check events are set up in public areas such as shopping center parking lots. Checks are conducted for a set period of time (usually 3-4 hours). Parents and caregivers bring their child’s safety seat, motor vehicle, and child to the event. Trained child passenger safety technicians perform an evaluation for all children in the vehicle who are under 13 years old. They will check for the following:
- Correct selection (is the child safety seat the correct size for the child),
- Harnessing (is the child secured correctly in the seat),
- Installation (is the child safety seat correctly installed in the vehicle),
- Recalls (is there a manufacturing defect with the child safety seat).
To find out when the next event will be held in your area, visit the Nebraska Safe Kid’s website.