According to Nevada State Law, until children reach six years old and weigh more than 60 pounds, they must be secured in a restraint system that meets the United States Department of Transportation Standards and the requirements of safety seat manufacturers.
Nevada’s Laws are not adequate to protect children in the event of an accident.
The southwestern state of Nevada is home to world-class tourist attractions like Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, and Reno, as well as some of the world’s most awe-inspiring deserts. If you’re a Nevadan parent or thinking of driving through this unique state with your kids, then you should thoroughly read through this article. Below, we’ll tell you what you need to know about the Silver State’s current child safety seat laws. At the end of the article, we’ll share a few interesting links that are sure to make you a Nevada safety expert.
Nevada’s car seat laws
All children under the age of six and less than 60 pounds must be in a safety restraint system appropriate for their age, weight, and height.
- Nevada safety officials recommend all toddlers under the age of one be placed in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children between the ages of one and three who outgrow the rear-facing seat’s recommended weight and height limits may transition to a forward-facing seat.
- Between the ages of four and seven, a child can transition to a booster seat when s/he outgrows the forward-facing seat.
- Parents should only use the car’s back safety belt when a child is at least eight years old and 4’9”.
Note, all the above suggestions are only recommendations for best practice from Nevada’s DMV.
As a side note, the only acceptable times children can ride the back of a pickup or flatbed truck include farming, parades, and on slide-in campers.
For a quick recap of all the information listed above, check out this one-minute video on KPVM’s YouTube page. In the video, Trooper Loy Hixson will explain all of Nevada’s child safety seat laws.
In case you didn’t already know, the Nevada Department of Public Safety is a part of the Zero Fatalities program. As the name suggests, the Zero Fatalities program aims to bring the number of fatal car crashes in Nevada down to zero in the ensuing years. To track Nevada’s progress towards the goal, or to learn more about the state’s laws, check out this website. Nevada’s Zero Fatalities also published this helpful pamphlet containing the state’s child seat laws, safety tips, and vital contact information.
Anyone who’s been to Nevada should know that the weather can get extremely hot or cold depending on where you’re located. Due to the state’s extreme temperatures, the state government has made it illegal to leave children or pets in an unattended vehicle. Officers can break into a vehicle if they believe a child or pet’s life is in danger. To learn more about the warning signs of heat conditions, please visit this link to the Southern Nevada Health District’s website.
To read Nevada’s child safety seat laws in full, feel free to click on this link to NRS 484B.157.