Nebraska’s New Car Seat Laws for 2019

Nebraska has new child safety restraint laws that were implemented as of January 1st, 2019. As a parent, it’s important to understand these new laws and be familiar with when your child requires a car seat or safety restraint when in a motorized vehicle.

The new laws are in place to help parents protect their children as much as possible in the case of an unfortunate accident. You’ll also want to keep in mind that the new laws come with court fines when the laws aren’t followed.

Previously, these were the laws governing child restraints:

• Children age six and below must be secured in a safety seat that’s federally approved.
• Children ages six to eighteen must be properly restrained when in a car. Depending on age, the child needs to be in a safety seat or wearing a seatbelt.
• Children aren’t allowed to ride in cargo areas.
• Those providing childcare must transport children in a safety seat or must be wearing a safety belt.
• Drivers and front seat passengers must wear a safety belt or in a child safety seat.
• If the driver has a provisional operators permit (POP) or a school permit, then everyone in the vehicle needs to wear a seatbelt.

These are the new laws that are currently in effect. There are a few changes that you should be aware of.

• All children up to the age of eight needs to ride in a federally approved safety seat.
• Children age two and under need to ride in rear-facing seats, or until they reach the correct weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer.
• Children under eight need to ride in the backseat with a seatbelt, unless those seats are already occupied by children under eight.
• Children between the ages eight to eighteen need to ride with a seatbelt or child safety seat.
• Childcare providers need to transport children securely with child safety seats that are federally approved or seatbelts.
• Children up to the age of eighteen cannot ride in cargo areas.
• Violation can result in a $25 fine plus court costs, as well as 1 point on their driving record.

More information about Nebraska’s new car seat laws can be found here.

More Information About Seat Belt Laws in Nebraska

Nearly everyone is familiar with the phrase “buckle up” when they’re getting into the car. Seat belts are an essential element of car safety. They often prevent people from getting severe injuries in the event of an auto accident and can also prevent fatalities. Seat belts often stop people riding in the front of the car from being ejected from the vehicle and going through the windshield in an accident.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released information about restraint use in Nebraska between the years 2003-2012. They found the following:

• 2,034 people were killed in car accidents.
• Using seatbelts and child safety restraints can reduce the risk of injury and death by half.
• 79 percent of people in Nebraska wear seatbelts, which is under the national average of 86 percent.

Take note that seat belts laws in Nebraska are secondary. They apply to people driving motor vehicles and passengers in the front seat who are over the age of eighteen. This means that police can’t give them a ticket for violating these laws. However, if the police pulled the person over for a different reason and found they were violating seat belt laws as well, then they can issue a ticket.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation lists the safety belt laws for the state. In Nebraska, the following people in vehicles need to wear occupant protection systems:

• The driver
• Front-seat occupants
• Children between the ages of six and eighteen (younger children will be in car seats)
• Everyone in the vehicle if the driver has a provisional operator’s permit or a school permit.

The occupant protection system needs to be properly adjusted and fastened. When they’re not secure, the seatbelts won’t be able to do their job. If an accident happened, a person may sustain injuries that are more severe.

Let Welsh & Welsh Help You

While seat belts help keep people safe, they can’t always stop every injury from an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured because of an accident, our skilled attorneys can help you with your claim. We’re dedicated to fighting for the rights of people who were wrongfully injured by others who acted negligently. For a free consultation, get in touch with us today.