Child less than 6 years of age and weighing 60 pounds or less to be secured in child restraint system while being transported in motor vehicle; requirements for system; penalties; exceptions.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, any person who is transporting a child who is less than 6 years of age and who weighs 60 pounds or less in a motor vehicle operated in this State which is equipped to carry passengers shall secure the child in a child restraint system which:
(a) Has been approved by the United States Department of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 571;
(b) Is appropriate for the size and weight of the child; and
(c) Is installed within and attached safely and securely to the motor vehicle:
(1) In accordance with the instructions for installation and attachment provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system; or
(2) In another manner that is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
2. A person who violates the provisions of subsection 1 shall be:
(a) Required to complete a program of training conducted by a person or agency approved by the Department of Public Safety in the installation and use of child restraint systems; and
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, punished by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500, or required to perform not less than 8 hours nor more than 50 hours of community service. The court may waive any amount of the fine in excess of $50 or any amount of the community service in excess of 8 hours if a person or agency approved by the Department of Public Safety certifies that the violator has:
(1) Completed the program of training required by paragraph (a); and
(2) Presented for inspection by the person or agency an installed child restraint system that satisfies the provisions of subsection 1.
Ę The court shall make available a list of persons and agencies approved by the Department of Public Safety to conduct programs of training and perform inspections of child restraint systems.
3. For the purposes of NRS 483.473, a violation of this section is not a moving traffic violation.
4. A violation of this section may not be considered:
(a) Negligence in any civil action; or
(b) Negligence or reckless driving for the purposes of NRS 484.377.
5. This section does not apply:
(a) To a person who is transporting a child in a means of public transportation, including a taxi, school bus or emergency vehicle.
(b) When a physician determines that the use of such a child restraint system for the particular child would be impractical or dangerous because of such factors as the child’s weight, physical unfitness or medical condition. In this case, the person transporting the child shall carry in the vehicle the signed statement of the physician to that effect.
6. As used in this section, “child restraint system” means any device that is designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat or position children. The term includes, without limitation:
(a) Booster seats and belt-positioning seats that are designed to elevate or otherwise position a child so as to allow the child to be secured with a safety belt;
(b) Integrated child seats; and
(c) Safety belts that are designed specifically to be adjusted to accommodate children.
Last modified: February 25, 2006