Under New Jersey's new child passenger safety law (which goes into effect December 1, 2001), all teens and children under 18 years of age are required to wear a safety belt or be restrained in a car seat or booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle. Proper restraint is important, particularly for children under 8 years of age. The use of a child safety seat or booster seat, in conjunction with a vehicle's seat belt system, will better protect them in the event of a crash. Restraining a young child with a lap or shoulder belt alone is dangerous because the seat belt could ride up and cause serious, or even fatal, injuries in a crash.

How can you be sure your child is seated, safe and secure?

Follow these restraint guidelines, and you'll be in compliance with this lifesaving law:

Infants up to 20 pounds and one year of age must be secured in the back seat of a motor vehicle in a federally- approved rear-facing infant or convertible car seat. (Many newer convertible seats are approved for rear facing up to 30-35 pounds.)

If the motor vehicle doesn't have a back seat, the infant must be secured in the front seat of the vehicle in the same rear-facing manner. A rear-facing seat, however, should NEVER be installed in the front seat of a motor vehicle equipped with an active airbag. Prior to installing a rear-facing car seat, the airbag must be switched to off (if the vehicle is equipped with an on/off switch) or permission to deactivate the airbag must be obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, the front seat should be pushed back as far as possible.

Children between 20 and 40 pounds (applies to most children between one and four years of age) must be secured in the back seat of a motor vehicle in a federally approved convertible car seat or a booster seat (with five point harness system). The child must be facing forward in an upright position.

If there's no back seat in the motor vehicle, the child must be secured in the front seat of the vehicle in the same forward facing manner, with the vehicle's seat pushed back as far as possible.

Children between 40 and 80 pounds (applies to most children between four and eight years of age) must be secured in the back seat in a federally approved booster seat using the lap and shoulder belt.

If there's no back seat in the motor vehicle, the child must be secured in the front seat of the vehicle in the same manner as the back, with the vehicle's seat pushed back as far as possible.

All passengers under 18 years of age (but older than 8 years of age and weighing more than 80 pounds) are required to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a motor vehicle. Children under 12 should ride in the back seat of a motor vehicle - the safest-place- whenever possible.

All drivers and their passengers are required to wear seat belts when riding in a motor vehicle. It's the driver's responsibility to ensure that all passengers under 18 are properly restrained.

In addition to understanding the new law, it's also vital for parents, grandparents and others who transport children to ensure that their children's safety seats are installed and used properly. That's where Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians can help. They can answer your questions perform a child safety seat check to ensure your child is seated, safe and secure. Please call the: Glen Ridge Police Department Crime Prevention Unit (973) 748-5400x118 for more information, or to set up an appointment.