California Car Seat Law Changes

California car seat law changes effective january 1 2017.

California car seat law changes. Starting january 1 2017 children under 2 years old must be rear facing unless they weigh 40 pounds or more or are 40 inches tall or more. The current law states that children under the age of 8 must be buckled into a car seat or a booster in the back seat. Car seat law changes for 2017. Because thousands of children are injured or killed each year due to violations of booster seat laws or improper installation of the child restraints ca has established strict laws detailed the ages heights and weights children must be before they are exempt from.

The january 1 2017 car seat law. Most children will outgrow an infant seat before age 1 the next step is a convertible car seat. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat. If the child is eight or at least 4.

Unfortunately the laws in most states throughout the us are far behind best practice. California requires rear facing until 2. Additional california car seat laws state that guardians must secure children under eight years old in car seats or booster seats in the back seat of the vehicle. On the first day of 2017 california will join a small group of states that require children to remain rear facing until age 2 with a few specific caveats.

Effective january 1 2017 the state of california mandated that children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. All children under age 8 must be buckled into a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. Children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. The car seat must comply with applicable federal safety standards.

Children age 8 or older or who are 4 9 or taller may use the vehicle seat belt if it fits properly with the lap belt low on the hips touching the upper thighs and the shoulder belt crossing the center of the chest. California vehicle code section 27360. All passengers of all ages are subject to california s mandatory seat belt law. Several existing laws remain in place including.

Since the earliest days of this blog i ve written about how rear facing is the safest orientation for children when traveling in passenger vehicles.