Using a child seat is extremely important. Over 1000 children died in car accidents in California in 2022, and 36% of children were not buckled up. Many lives could be saved by the correct use of car seats.
California has some great car seat laws, that if you follow your kids will be safe. The law also ensures you use a car seat that can hold up in an accident.
Check out our video on California Child Seat Laws:
California Car Seat law
California Vehicle Code Section 27360 deals with child passenger safety. According to the law:
- Children below 2 years: Should be in a rear-facing car seat unless they're 40 pounds or over, or at least 40 inches tall.
- Children below 8 years or under 4'9": Should be seated in a car or booster seat in the back.
- Children 8 years and above or at least 4'9": Can use a booster seat or a standard seat belt.
While these are the basic guidelines, safety specialists advise keeping children in rear-facing seats until they're 4 or until they outgrow the seat's height and weight limits. Additionally, it's recommended that children use booster seats until they're 4'9" and the regular seat belt fits them properly across their hips and thighs.
If you are caught violating California's child passenger safety law, you could be cited and fined. The fine for a first offense is $250. The fine for a second offense within 36 months is $500.
California Rear-facing Car Seat Law
According to California car seat law, a child will travel in a rear-facing car seat if they are:
- Under 2 years old
- Weighs 40 or less pounds
- Or 40 or less inches tall
California's Rear-facing Car Seat Law is one of the strongest in the country. Many other states only require children to ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are 1 year old.
California Forward-facing Car Seat Law
California Forward-facing Car Seat Law requires that all children who have outgrown their rear-facing car seat must ride in a forward-facing car seat until they have outgrown the height and weight limits of the car seat. This typically occurs between 40 and 65 pounds.
Once a child has outgrown their forward-facing car seat, they can use a booster seat until they reach 4'9" tall and the adult lap belt fits snugly across their hips and thighs.
Child Booster Seat Laws in California
After the child has reached the weight limit of 65 pounds, they are ready to graduate to booster seats. According to California Highway Patrol:
"A child is ready for a booster seat when they have outgrown the weight or height limit of their forward-facing harnesses, which is typically between 40 and 65 pounds. Read the forward-facing car seat’s owner’s manual to determine height and weight limits, and keep your child in a harnessed seat for as long as possible.”
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in California?
Under the law, children who are older than 8 years and taller than 4”9’ can sit in the front seat but it is recommended by experts that you use booster seats until the age of 13.
However, it is important to note that child safety experts recommend that children ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old. This is because the back seat is the safest place for children in a car crash.
Leaving Child in Car Law in California
California is one of those states where it gets really hot and it is illegal to leave children in the cars. California Vehicle Code Section 15620 says that no parent or guardian can leave a child under the age of 6 in a car. According to the law they have to be with be someone at least 12 years of age. Violating this law can land you in trouble and at least $100 fine.
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in California?
In California, Health & Safety Code Section 118948(a) says It is Illegal to smoke in a car with a minor in it.
A violation of this law is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $100.
Taxi Car Seat Law in California
Taxis are not exempt from the law in California. Although the responsibility falls on parents first. If the parents aren’t present, then the cab driver will be held responsible.
California Law Car Seat - Replacement After Accident
California law makes it mandatory for insurance companies to replace the car seats after a crash regardless of they were occupied or not. It is always a good idea to replace your car seats after any major crash because car seats are supposed to handle only one crash. If the crash was minor, you can reuse the car seat again.
Additional Tips to Keep Kids Safe in Cars
Places to Get Car Seat Help in California
Good Car Seat Safety Videos for California Parents
California child safety seat law
How to take the Pinch Test with rear facing car seats
California Highway Patrol Child Safety Video
Cincinnati Children’s tutorial on car seat installation
An easy guide to safe car seat installation
Resources for More Info on California Car Seat Safety
Growing up I was a carefree male going about life like there was no tomorrow. Naturally, I ‘grew’ up, settled down and started a family.
Going from an independent carefree male to a family man was somewhat of a U-turn and required a lot of learning. Luckily for me, my wife works in education and has always been the shining light always ahead of me on all factors kids related.
Initially, my wife didn’t have a driving license (luckily this has now changed and it does make life easier), and all things car related were my task. Child locks were the obvious starting point which lead me down a rabbit hole.
So far we have personally tested dozens of convertible car seats and have owned five despite neither of our kids having reached the age of 5! Simply put, a car seat can be great on paper, work great on trying out but can fail on you in real life.
This is why I have put together this website – to help inform and educate you!
Of course, as I mentioned above, at the end of the day your experience will be the best test so I’d love to hear your experiences and feedback in the comments.
To contact me personally, please do so through my contact page.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Peter
P.S. If you click a link on my site and end up buying a car seat on Amazon, I’ll get paid a small commission (or as the Amazon lawyers put it: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”)
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