Nevada’s Child Car Seat and Seatbelt Laws

Nevada's child restraint law requires children younger than six years old and less than 57 inches tall to be secured in a child restraint system. The law also provides exceptions for certain types of vehicles and situations.

Here are the basics of the car seat and seatbelt laws and the penalties for child safety restraint tickets.

How Nevada Defines "Child Restraint System"

Nevada defines a child restraint system as "any device that is designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat or position children."

The appropriate child restraint generally depends on the child's age and size.

Rear-Facing Car Seats

Rear-facing car seats are generally for infants and very small children. Typically, a child will use a rear-facing seat until about age two or three.

Nevada law generally requires all children who are younger than two years old to be in a rear-facing car seat placed in the rear seats of the vehicle.

However, with rear-facing seats and all other child restraint systems, parents should always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Forward-Facing Car Seats

Children should generally start using a forward-facing car seat once they outgrow their rear-facing seat. Most rear-facing seats are appropriate only until the child reaches around 22 to 35 pounds.

Many children use forward-facing car seats until about four or five years old.

But, again, always make sure you're using a car seat in a manner that's consistent with the manufacturer's instructions.

Booster Seats

When a child gets too big for a rear-facing car seat, a booster seat is typically the next step.

Children normally can use booster seats from about four or five to about nine or 10 years old.

Seatbelts

Once a child reaches at least six years old or 57 inches tall, Nevada law permits them to be secured in a normal seatbelt. However, it's generally safer to keep using a booster seat until a normal seatbelt fits appropriately.

When Kids Can Sit in the Front Seat in Nevada

Nevada law generally prohibits children who are younger than two years old to sit in the front seat of a vehicle. However, this restriction doesn't apply if the car doesn't have rear seats or all the rear seat positions are taken by other children who are younger than two.

Child Restraint System Requirements

Nevada requires that drivers use a child restraint system that is approved by the United States Department of Transportation, appropriate to the child's size and weight, and installed and attached securely according to the seat manufacturer instructions.

Exceptions to Nevada's Car Seat and Seatbelt Rules

Taxis, buses, and emergency vehicles. Nevada's child restraint law doesn't apply to a person who's transporting a child using public transportation, including a taxi, school bus, or emergency vehicle.

Medical exemptions. Nevada also provides a medical exception to the child restraint law. If a physician determines that the use of a child restraint system would be impractical or dangerous to the child, the driver doesn't have to follow the child restraint requirements. However, drivers must carry a signed note from a physician verifying the exemption.

Penalties for Car Seat and Seatbelt Tickets in Nevada

The penalties for car seat and seatbelt violations in Nevada can include fines, community services, and license suspension.

Fines and Community Service

The fines and community service requirements for violating the child restraint law depend on the driver's history of violating this law. For a first or second offense, the judge has the choice of ordering a fine or community service.

	Fine	Community Service
First offense	$100 to $500	10 to 50 hours
Second offense	$500 to $1000	50 to 100 hours

At the time of sentencing, the court is supposed to inform the driver of the opportunity to take a class that teaches about child restraint safety. If a driver takes the class within 60 days of sentencing, the judge will waive the fine and community service for a first offense. If it's the driver's second offense, the judge will reduce the fine or community service by half.

License Suspension

If a driver is found guilty of a third or subsequent violation, the Nevada DMV will suspend the driver's license for a period of 30 to 180 days.

No Points for Car Seat Tickets

Violations of this law are not considered moving violations—meaning, the DMV won't add demerit points to the driver's record for these violations.

Child Car Seat Recalls

From time to time, recalls are issued for child car seats. To find out about recalls, you can register with the NHTSA to receive recall information about the seat you have or search for recalls that have already been issued.