In this article, we will look at the California car seat law and understand the various requirements for using the different types of car seats. The car seats are differentiated on the basis of the age, weight and height of the children. Moreover, we will look into the penalties and fines for violating the car seat laws of California.
Introduction
The safety of the child is the topmost priority of every parent. Similarly, car seat laws are being implemented for the safety of children while driving back home or going anywhere else. When you drive your newborn from the hospital to your house, the hospital staff checks that your car contains a child safety car seat and is properly installed in the vehicle. All these things are done to protect your infant from any severe injury or death due to a car accident. The child safety car seats majorly keep young children or babies safe from injuries during a car crash.
Under California law, the children must be properly secured in the child safety car seat. As per the law, children should sit inside the rear car seat of the vehicle with an appropriate booster seat or car seat until they reach the maximum height and weight limit. The maximum weight limit to seat in the front-facing car seat is 40 pounds, and the maximum height limit should be more than 40 inches. The child must be properly secured in a child restraint seat until they reach the age of 8 and becomes taller than 4’9”.
Quick Overview of California Car Seat Laws: Age and Weight
| Age | Weight | Height | Car Seat Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years old | – | – | Rear-facing child restraint system |
| 2-8 years old | At least 40 pounds | At least 40 inches | Forward-facing car seat |
| 2-8 years old | Less than 40 pounds | Less than 40 inches | Remain in rear-facing car seat |
| Under 8 years old | – | – | Federally approved child safety seat (appropriate for age, weight, and height) |
California front-seat law
As per the California front seat car law, when the children outgrow the maximum height and weight limit for sitting in the rear-facing seat, they should be moved to the front seat. The maximum height limit is 40 inches, the weight limit is 40 pounds, and the child should be over 8. Children must be moved to the front seat at the right time, but if they are older than 8 but weigh less than 40 pounds, they should remain seated in the rear-facing seat. It is to ensure the safety of the child. It has been reported that children under 2 years old are more than 500% safer in the rear-facing seat than in the forward-facing seat. Mostly the front-facing seats are made in such a way that they should remain in the backside of the car and must have the 5-point harness.
California Front car seat laws, age, and weight
For a child to sit in the car’s front seat, they must first reach the maximum weight and height limit. Children who are more than 8 years and weigh at least forty pounds can sit on the front seat of the car with a seat belt. However, CDC recommends that a child should not move to the car’s front seat before age 13. This is due to the presence of airbags on the front seat of the car.
California Rear seat law
As per California rear seat law (Vehicle code 27360), children under 2 must be secured inside the rear-facing car seat until they reach at least 40 inches in height and weigh 40 pounds. The children who have the age of 2 but are under 40 inches tall and weigh less than 40 pounds must remain seated in the rear-facing car seat till they reach the required height and weight limit.
The guardians or parents must follow the instructions provided on the official site of California car seat law or the instructions given by the child safety car seat manufacturer. This will let the children remain secured in the rear-facing car seat. It has been found that rear-facing seats are much safer and decrease the chance of neck or head injuries during a motor vehicle accident. Also, make sure that you check the American Academy of Pediatrics website for more information related to changes in the car seat law. The AAP allows the children to remain in the rear-facing seat to decrease the risk of injury. Most of the convertible seats fully accommodate children who weigh around 40 pounds.
California Rear car seat laws, age and weight
The infant and toddlers under two weighing 40 to 45 pounds must remain in the rear-facing car seat. They can be moved to the forward-facing car seat until they exceed the maximum weight and height limit to sit in a rear-facing car seat.
Booster Seat Law
The booster seat law of California requires children to remain in the booster car seat till they reach the maximum height of 4’9” and an age of over 8 years. Children under 8 should remain seated in the child restraint seat. It’s recommended to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer and the maximum and minimum size requirement as directed by the manufacturer for the usage of the booster seats. However, most manufacturers have set the minimum age limit of 4 with 40 pounds and 40 inches tall.
A booster seat, as the name suggests, is a seat which can boost up the child so that they can fit in the seat belt properly. Apart from providing safety, the seat gives the children a good height with which it becomes easier to adjust the lap belt or shoulder belts across the child’s body. For the proper fitting, it’s important to keep the lap belt below or lower position of the hips so that it can touch the upper thigh region. On the other hand, the shoulder belt should lie across the chest center. The booster seat should always go with the seat belt with shoulder or lap components, not just the lap belt. But in most cases, the children cannot fit in the adult seatbelt until they reach 10 to 12 years old.
· Booster seat age California
Children at least 8 should sit in the booster car or any other child restraint seat. Once they outgrow the maximum age, they can shift to the car’s front seat with the seatbelt properly used for buckling up.
· Booster seat height and weight requirements in California
A child can sit in the booster seat once they outgrow the forward-facing car seat’s maximum height and weight limit. The maximum height limit is four years, whereas the weight limit is 40 to 65 pounds.
. Quick Overview: California Booster Seat Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Age and Height | Children under 8 years old or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches |
| Seat Location | Back seat whenever possible |
| Seat Type | Federally approved booster seat or child safety seat |
| Seat Fit | Child sits upright with back against seat back and feet flat on floor |
| Belt Fit | Lap belt snug across hips, shoulder belt across chest (not neck or arm) |
California law on baby car seats
Children under the age of 2 must ride in the rear-facing seat until they reach a height of 40 inches and weigh more than 40 pounds. The child must be properly secured in the car seat in a manner that complies with the weight and height limit specified by the car seat manufacturer.
California car seat law 2 years old
Children under 2 should ride only in the rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight and height limit that the manufacturer specifies. Once they outgrow 2, they can be moved to a forward-facing seat.
Penalties and Fines for car Seats in California
The guardian or parents who do not follow the child restraint law implemented by the California government must need to pay the penalties and fine for violating the rules:
- For the very first violation: $100 ticket
- For subsequent violation: $250 ticket
If a person fails to pay the price of the ticket being raised, then the penalty will be increased to:
- $1000 fine
- Or, 6 months imprisonment
But there are certain exemptions from the child restraint law which can work in defense of the individual. It includes:
- Emergencies made carrying the baby in the child’s safety car seat difficult.
- Driver of the car is not the guardian or parent of the child, or the parent or guardian was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, such as in the case of public buses and taxis.
- The child suffers from medical conditions which make them unable to use the booster seat or any other car seat.
Conclusion
It’s mandatory to follow the California child restraint law for the protection of Children from any possible injury that might happen due to motor vehicle accidents. As per the law, children under 8 must be properly secured in a child restraint car seat. If the parent or guardian does not follow the laws, they must pay a heavy fine for violating them.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When can a child stop use a car seat in California?
As per state law, the children must be properly secured in the rear-facing car seat of the vehicle with an appropriate booster seat or car seat until they reach the age of 8 and become taller than 4’9”.
2. Can a child ride in a 2-seater car in California?
Taking your child in the front seat is illegal if any airbag is in the passenger seat. However, there are a few exemptions, such as in the case of two-seater vehicles or cars when there is no back seat. When the back seat is not there, carrying the child in the car’s front seat becomes possible. But the parents must ensure that the passenger car seat is far away from the actual position.
3. Can a 7-year-old sit in the front seat in California?
A child cannot sit in the car’s front seat until they reach the maximum age of 8 years.
4. What is the car seat law in California for accidents?
As per the reports by CDC, a car accident is the major cause of death in children. In 2017, it was found that almost 116,000 youngsters who were not more than 12 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Nearly 675 children died due to fatal injuries. According to the CDC, approximately 35% of injured kids were not using the safety seat belt.
5. What age child can sit in the front seat in California?
Once the child reaches age 8, they can sit in the car’s front seat in California.
6. When can my child ride without a booster seat in California?
As per the law, children at least 8 or more can sit in the booster car seat.
7. What happens if you get pulled over with a child in California, not in a car seat?
If their parents do not obey the car seat law, they must pay a base fine of $100 for violating the child restraint law. After that, a penalty of $250 is implemented for every subsequent violation. The fine base price is less than the actual amount because the actual amount of the fine includes the penalty and fees assessment.
8. Does Uber have car seats in California?
No, the Uber driver does not require to follow the car seat even if the child is sitting in the car’s front seat. However, they must comply with the local laws assigned by the government.
9. Can a 10-year-old sit in the front seat in California?
Once the child outgrows the age limit of 8 years, they can sit in the car’s front seat.
10. Can my 11-year-old sit in the front seat in California?
Yes, an 11-year-old child can sit easily on the front seat, but proper seat belt usage is mandatory for the child’s safety.
11. How much is a ticket for not having a child in a car seat in California?
If a person does not obey the car seat law, they must pay a fine of $100. If the same person violates the rule for subsequent time, the penalty will be increased, and it will be around $250. So, the person might need to pay a fine of up to $475.
12. What are the consequences of not having a child in a car seat?
Children aged 8 and older 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. Children not tall enough for proper fit must ride in a booster or car seat.
13. Can a 1-year-old travel in a taxi without a car seat?
There are a few exceptions to the California car seat law, one of which is taxis. If you travel in a taxi or public transport, you do not need to use the child car seat.
14. How Much Do You Have To Weigh To Sit In the Front Seat in California?
California law doesn’t have a weight requirement for sitting in the front seat. Instead, it focuses on age and height for child safety seat and booster seat use as you check out above about age and height requirement. Therefore, weight is not a factor, and the primary focus is on ensuring proper safety measures are in place for children based on age and height.
15. How Old Do You Have To Be To Sit In Tge Front Seat?
California law doesn’t specifically state a minimum age for sitting in the front seat. However, it indirectly addresses this through child safety seat regulations. Therefore, while there’s no direct age restriction, children under 8 are generally discouraged from sitting in the front seat due to safety considerations.
About The Author
Hassan Zaka
I am an expert in accounting and have diverse experience in technical writing. I have written for various industries on finance, business, and technology. My writing style is clear and simple, and I use infographics and diagrams to make my writing engaging. I can benefit any organization needing technical writing services.
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