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Car seat & booster law

Northern Mariana Islands

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · Northern Mariana Islands

A car seat or booster is required until your child is taller than 4'6".

A child under 5 must ride in a child passenger restraint system. A child under 5 who has outgrown a standard car seat and is under 80 pounds and under 54 inches must use a booster. No child under 5, under 80 pounds, or under 54 inches may ride in a front seat with an active passenger airbag. Everyone else must wear a seat belt.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster Belt 5+ yr
9 CMC § 4108 Read the statute

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The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

General information, not legal advice.

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Required vs recommended

What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.

The law requires

Minimum, or it's enforceable

Rear-facing until
Not specified by law
Booster until
4'6"
Back seat
Not required

Pediatricians recommend

AAP — safer, not the law

Rear-facing until
To seat limit (often age 2+)
Booster until
4'9" — typically age 8–12
Back seat
Until age 13

AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from the CNMI legal minimum. CNMI requires a car seat only through age 4 and ties the booster rule to an 80-pound / 54-inch threshold, so pediatric guidance goes well beyond the statute.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Northern Mariana Islands.

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster Guidance
Age
—
Height
< 4'6" / 137 cm
Seat belt 9 CMC § 4108
Age
5 yr +
Back seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in the Northern Mariana Islands in 2026?
A child under 5 must ride in a child passenger restraint system. A child under 5 who has outgrown a standard car seat and is under 80 pounds and under 54 inches must use a booster, and no such child may ride in a front seat with an active airbag.
How much is the fine for a child car seat violation in the CNMI?
A minimum fine of $250 for a child-restraint violation. A general seat-belt violation is a minimum of $25.
Does the Northern Mariana Islands require rear-facing car seats?
CNMI law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires a child under 5 to ride in a federally approved child passenger restraint system. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the highest weight or height the manufacturer permits.
Can a child ride in the front seat in the Northern Mariana Islands?
No child under 5, under 80 pounds, or under 54 inches may ride in a front seat with an active passenger airbag, unless the front seat is the only seating in the vehicle. The back seat is the safest place for any child under 13.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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