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Car accidents are one of the leading causes of hospitalization for children under the age of 16. Without a proper car seat in accordance with California’s car seat laws, there’s no way to ensure that your child is as safe as possible.
To avoid a ticket—or worse—it’s important to know and follow California’s child passenger safety laws.
What Is California’s Child Passenger Safety Law?
Section 27360 of the California Vehicle Code lays out California’s car seat laws in detail. The law includes four different classifications of children, divided up by age group: under two years old, between two and four years old, between four and eight years old, and eight years and older.
Under Two Years Old
“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 child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat,” says Section 27360 of the California Vehicle Code.
This means that you must both adhere to the size requirements of your child as well as the usage guidelines of the car seat’s manufacturer. These must be rear-facing car seats.
Between Two and Four Years Old
Once your child reaches two years old, 41 pounds, or 41 inches tall, you can use a forward-facing car seat. Possible car seat options for this age group include convertible, 3-in-1, and combination car seats.
All children in this age group must be secured by a harness built into the car seat.
Between Four and Eight Years Old
Eventually, your child will be too big for a car seat. That usually happens between the ages of four and eight years old. Hence why the law requires children in this age group to start using booster seats. Possible options include 3-in-1, combination, and booster seats.
If your child is between the ages of four and eight years old but is taller than 4’9”, they cannot legally ride in a booster seat. Instead, they are to be treated as though they were more than eight years old.
More than Eight Years Old
All children taller than 4’9” or older than eight years old are required to wear seat belts whenever the vehicle is in motion. Although it is legal for children eight years and older to ride in the front seat, it is not generally recommended. If you are involved in an accident and the airbags deploy, your child could be significantly injured.
For maximum safety, experts recommend having your child ride in the back seat of the vehicle, wearing a proper seat belt.
Are There Any Exceptions to California’s Car Seat Laws?
There are a small handful of exceptions to California’s car seat laws. They are as follows:
- If the court has granted an exception due to your child’s size or health conditions.
- If the child is being transferred during an emergency or in an authorized emergency vehicle.
- If there are no rear seats.
- If it would be dangerous to install the proper car seat in the back seat.
- If all back seats are occupied by younger children.
How to Properly Place Your Child in a Car Seat
First, make sure that the harness straps are threaded through the lowest part of the seat. Then loosen the straps. Set the child in the seat, seated with their bottom against the seat’s back. Once properly seated, slide their arms through the straps, fasten the harness, and tighten the straps.
Lastly, take the pinch test. Use two of your fingers to check the tightness of the harness. Make sure the chest clip sits exactly across the baby’s pecs to prevent choking or organ damage.
What Age Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in California?
Children can sit in the front seat of a car once they reach eight years of age and are taller than 4’9”. Although it is legal for a 4’10” eight-year-old to sit in the front seat, they will be safer in the back seat. Airbags can cause significant damage to shorter individuals and younger children.
How Often Do You Have To Replace Your Car Seat in California?
California law requires insurance companies to replace car seats after a crash whether the seats were occupied or not. It is important to replace your car seat after an accident because damaged seats have a greater chance at malfunctioning and harming the child.
Are Ubers or Taxis Exempt from the Car Seat Law?
Ubers, Lyfts, taxis, and other livery vehicles are not exempt from California’s car seat laws. However, if the child’s parents are in the vehicle, a violation of this law would result in them receiving the ticket, not the driver. The driver of the vehicle will only get the ticket if they are the parent of the child or if the child’s parents are not also in the vehicle.
Penalties for Driving With a Child Without a Car Seat in California
If you are ticketed for driving with a child without a car seat in California, you will face fines and other penalties. The base fine for the first violation is $100. For subsequent violations, the fine amount rises to $250. This number will likely be significantly less than the fine amount listed on the ticket, as the ticket price includes a number of other fees and surcharges.
California Vehicle Code section 27360 states that the ticket recipient will also receive one point on their driver license. You can have your license suspended if this point puts you into any one of the following point brackets:
- 4 points in 12 months.
- 6 points in 24 months.
- 8 points in 36 months.
These tickets come with a mandatory court appearance. Failure to appear in court for one of these violations can result in you being charged with an additional misdemeanor offense.
The 10 Best Car Seats For Children
Now that you know what California’s car seat laws are, we can get to the fun part: Buying the best car seat for your child! There are all kinds of seats from which to choose, making it difficult to compare them all. But we’ve analyzed the data, read up on consumer reports, and done a little research of our own to compile a list of the best car seats for children. Here you go:
#10: Evenflo Symphony Elite All-In-One Convertible Car Seat
Tenth on our list is the Evenflo Symphony Elite All-In-One Convertible Car Seat. When Evenflo says, “All-in-one,” they mean it. This seat is great for children from their first day out of the maternity ward until their last day in a booster seat. It costs around $200 depending on the vender, which is a relatively affordable price for an all-in-one car seat.
#9: Diono Radian 3RXT Convertible Car Seat
The Diono Radian 3RXT Convertible Car Seat is one of the best convertible car seats on the market today. It works great as a rear-facing seat for babies and can be converted into a forward-facing harness for toddlers. When converted into a booster seat, it supports children up to 120 pounds.
#8: ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
The ClickTight Convertible Car Seat is a great option both in terms of comfort and convertibility. It’s unique 14-position harness and soft cushioning make it one of the most comfortable car seats available today. This 3-in-1 car seat can be configured for rear-facing, front-facing, and belt-adjusting booster seats.
#7: Maxi-Cosi Rodifix Booster Car Seat
This high-back booster seat will help your child fall asleep and stay there, for a smooth, cry-free ride home. If your child is bigger than average or you’re driving with a crowded back seat, this seat might be the best option for you. It’s lack of armrests means it takes up less space, making for a smaller profile. That’s despite the fact that it’s taller than most and designed to fit taller children.
#6: Doona Infant Car Seat/Stroller
Expensive for a car seat but affordable for a stroller, the Doona All-In-One Infant Car Seat/Stroller combo makes for a great investment. Simply pop your child into the seat, detach the seat from the car, set the seat in the stroller, and head on out.
#5: Nuna RAVA Car Seat
This seat is manufactured from high-quality, flame-retardant material. The next generation of child safety, this car seat is worth every penny. Of course, $450 is a lot of pennies. Fortunately, this seat is convertible, meaning that you can save money that would otherwise have to be spent buying new seats as your child grows.
#4: Graco 4ever All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
Affordable, easy-to-use, and comfortable, this 4-in-1 car seat is designed to be as versatile as can be. As long as the child’s head sits below the handle in rear-facing mode, the seat can support any size baby you bring home, with weight capabilities ranging from 4 to 40 pounds.
#3: Britax Grow With You ClickTight Car Seat
The only reason the Britax Grow With You ClickTight Car Seat isn’t at the top of this list is because slots number one and two were already taken. This seat meets the legal safety requirements of every state in the country, making it a great option for commuters and travelers alike. To top it all off, it can easily be turned into a belt-adjusting booster seat when your child reaches the right age.
#2: Combi Coccoro Convertible Car Seat
This seat is a lightweight, compact, life-saver. Designed to fit in smaller vehicles without sacrificing child size support, this front-facing seat is a great option for drivers of compact cars or who have crowded back seats. This seat’s five-point harness and Tru-Safe Side Impact Protection hardware makes it one of the safest car seats on the market.
#1: Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Not only is this car seat designed to be compatible with same-brand strollers, it also comes equipped with removable supports for newborns. Combine that with the seat’s five-point harness and easy-pull design and you get a phenomenal car seat at a great price.
What Now?
Now that you know about the law and have a general idea of what to look for when buying the best car seat for children, you know how important it is to stick to California’s seat belt law. A single violation could cost you hundreds.
If you’ve been issued a ticket for violating California’s seat belt laws, reach out to a local attorney through the WinIt app. There are countless to choose from in the state of California and all of them are trained to provide affordable and accurate legal assistance.
So what are you waiting for? Download the WinIt app and get started fighting your California seat belt ticket today!
