California Booster/child seat laws.

[skiingfast]

Is there any Californian parent that knows the current booster seat law?

When I do a search I come up with 60pounds of 6yo and nothing is required. Above that is a suggestion to an older age and hieght.

Is this still current? 60 lbs and 6yo and regular use of the seat and seatbelt is fine.

 

[GrandBob]

Yep, still current, Matt. The child must be either 6 years old or weigh 60 pounds to be able to ride without a child seat. Here's the applicable law:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27360.htm

If the child is at least 6 years old or over 60 pounds, and is under 16, you must fasten him/her in with seat belts:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27360_5.htm

HTH,
Bob

 

[skiingfast]

Thank you. Never considered it before, but thought riding in a car other than my own may happen so wanted to be sure. Thanks again.

 

[cmwade77]

Actually, that is not quite correct, it is 60 lbs. AND 6 years. The police have been out educating people (with tickets) lately around here, as most people think it is OR, even the CHP website doesn't make it clear which way it is.

Please note that, even if the law does state OR, cops around here are treating it as and and giving tickets accordingly and we live near Disneyland, so I would not risk it. You might be able to fight it, but would it be worth it, if you are from out of the area?

Last I heard the tickets were running $200+ with all of the fees tacked on.

 

[skiingfast]

Actually, that is not quite correct, it is 60 lbs. AND 6 years. The police have been out educating people (with tickets) lately around here, as most people think it is OR, even the CHP website doesn't make it clear which way it is.

Please note that, even if the law does state OR, cops around here are treating it as and and giving tickets accordingly and we live near Disneyland, so I would not risk it. You might be able to fight it, but would it be worth it, if you are from out of the area?

Last I heard the tickets were running $200+ with all of the fees tacked on.

Thanks, I might need to get DS on scale before I leave.

Yeah I understand the pains of fighting tickets from afar.

 

[stubby]

Thanks, I might need to get DS on scale before I leave.

Yeah I understand the pains of fighting tickets from afar.

Was just thinkin same about youngest dd. She is 6 but little...and she doesn't use one here but afraid she will have to have one there. Gonna get her weighed tomorrow.

 

[HarryMoose]

Thanks for asking. I was wondering too. I really don't want to drag one with us. Is it like NYC that public transport (taxis and hired cars) don't require one?

DD is 6, will be 7 on the trip. She is barely 40 lbs. I don't see 60 in her future soon. Heck I didn't weight 60 lbs until 7th grade!

MI laws are 8 years old, or 4"9. Thank goodness they have age cap, and not a weight one. My oldest DD use the car seat until 8. Even at 10 she still uses it when in our car (unless someone younger needs it.)

 

[HarryMoose]

Yep, still current, Matt. The child must be either 6 years old or weigh 60 pounds to be able to ride without a child seat. Here's the applicable law:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27360.htm

HTH,
Bob

This is what that link said:

27360. (a) A parent or legal guardian, when present in a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 27315, may not permit his or her child or ward to be transported upon a highway in the motor vehicle without properly securing the child or ward in a rear seat in a child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, unless the child or ward is one of the following:

(1) Six years of age or older.

(2) Sixty pounds or more.

(b) (1) A driver may not transport on a highway a child in a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 27315, without properly securing the child in a rear seat in a child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, unless the child is one of the following:

(A) Six years of age or older.

(B) Sixty pounds or more.

(2) This subdivision does not apply to a driver if the parent or legal guardian of the child is also present in the vehicle and is not the driver.


So according to this we won't need a booster seat. DD will be 6 (7 actually for most of the trip) and we are not renting a car, neither DH or I plan to drive.

 

[Dostert9]

I have a 5 year old and 7 year old. I am bringing booster seats for both of them. Is that ok or do they need the high back boosters?

 

[cmwade77]

Well, as I said, that is not how the police are enforcing it here (South L.A. County/North Orange County). Yes, based on that law if you got a ticket you could fight it, but the police know that in most cases you are from out of the area and will not take the time to come in to fight it.

 

[Davids-Coco]

I have a 5 year old and 7 year old. I am bringing booster seats for both of them. Is that ok or do they need the high back boosters?

If you are already going to use boosters, I would HIGHLY suggest spending about $25 each to get the evenflo bigkid Amp boosters for them. The cool thing is they have a clip that runs behind the back and attaches to the shoulder portion of the belt to position the shoulder strap safer than a regular backless would without having the bulk traveling of a backed booster. They are also highly rated. Food for thought.

 

[robinjh7]

Also be absolutely certain everyone is buckled up. Seat belt usage is a primary law in CA, and you can be stopped for not wearing one. On our last trip down in April, we had a CHP officer parallel us. My son was asleep in the back, leaning against the window, with his pillow between his head and the glass. The officer could not see that he was buckled so he got my attention and told me (the front seat passenger) to tell him to buckle up. The officer zoomed off when my son woke up when I yelled at him and he took the pillow away.

 

[RedRosie]

Thanks for asking. I was wondering too. I really don't want to drag one with us. Is it like NYC that public transport (taxis and hired cars) don't require one?

DD is 6, will be 7 on the trip. She is barely 40 lbs. I don't see 60 in her future soon. Heck I didn't weight 60 lbs until 7th grade!

MI laws are 8 years old, or 4"9. Thank goodness they have age cap, and not a weight one. My oldest DD use the car seat until 8. Even at 10 she still uses it when in our car (unless someone younger needs it.)

CA law is 6 or 60, but recommendations are to use booster seats longer. Disney even has a commercial (at least in CA) recommending 4'9".

 

[starshine514]

We use backless boosters for our girls (4 - uses a graco, rated for 30 lbs and up and 6 - uses and Evenflo Big Kid Amp, rated for 40 lbs or more) when we fly and when riding in extended family's vehicles. When riding in our primary vehicles DD6 still rides in a 5-point harness in one vehicle and a high-back booster in the other (wish I had spent the extra $$$ and bought a second Britax Frontier so she could still be harnessed all the time) and DD4 uses a 5-point harness. DD6 can legally just use a seat belt in Arizona, but I wouldn't feel safe with her riding w/o that extra layer of protection.

Car seats can be checked for free, so why even take chances w/ your little one's safety? You'd never forgive yourself if something bad happened.

 

[flying kiwi]

Now I am confused... our children are 46 pounds and 50 pounds respectively (aged 7 and 10)...


If the law is 6 years OR 60 pounds, then they don't need a booster...
If the law is 6 years AND 60 pounds, then they DO need a booster.

Since we are flying from New Zealand - bring our boosters will use our luggage allowance...

My reading of the Californian state government website says we don't need a booster... What should we do???

 

[HarryMoose]

Now I am confused... our children are 46 pounds and 50 pounds respectively (aged 7 and 10)...


If the law is 6 years OR 60 pounds, then they don't need a booster...
If the law is 6 years AND 60 pounds, then they DO need a booster.

Since we are flying from New Zealand - bring our boosters will use our luggage allowance...

My reading of the Californian state government website says we don't need a booster... What should we do???

I don't plan to bring one. If you are comfortable with them ridding in a car with out it, don't bother. Recommending is different then the law. The law says 6 or 60 lbs. Both kids fit the bill.

Even if your wanted your children to use them, it would be cheaper to buy one once to you get the USA. Boosters are about $20 each.

I am considering printing out the website and having it with me just in case.

 

[GrandBob]

Actually, that is not quite correct, it is 60 lbs. AND 6 years.

Now I am confused... our children are 46 pounds and 50 pounds respectively (aged 7 and 10)...


If the law is 6 years OR 60 pounds, then they don't need a booster...
If the law is 6 years AND 60 pounds, then they DO need a booster.

Since we are flying from New Zealand - bring our boosters will use our luggage allowance...

My reading of the Californian state government website says we don't need a booster... What should we do???

I posted the official link from the CA DMV web site. The law is clear - a booster seat is not required by law if the child is 6 years old OR 60 pounds.

-Bob

 

[Diegosmom]

You can use the boosters on the plane so they wont count toward the luggage allowance. And while some of these laws might be a "Pain" they have the best interest of the child in mind. If you are in a car accident the child is more safe in a booster.

On a side note I really wish the US would make carseat laws universal for all states. Why is each state different. Luckily our state is 8 and 80lb (which I think is the most strict) so I dont have to worrk when I drive from NC to mass (thru like 8 states) what laws I have to follow. I will be leaving DS4 in his normal carseat until he is too big to be in it ((which I think it is 60lb then converts to the booster which can be 100lbs).

 

[pinktink83]

You can use the boosters on the plane so they wont count toward the luggage allowance. And while some of these laws might be a "Pain" they have the best interest of the child in mind. If you are in a car accident the child is more safe in a booster.

Yep, its true! Don't forget...state laws are always behind. It takes many deaths before anything gets changed. And doctors are seeing more and more injuries and deaths associated with kids not being secured properly, and for long enough. They spoke out about recently.

 

[cyclenut]

I haven't had to worry about this for a long time as my kids are now teens. The laws have gradually become more strict but there remains debate about how much safer it really is. There are a number of factors, including how adjustable the shoulder restraint is, where the child is seated in the car, etc.

If you are one who is concerned about how safe shoulder restraints are without a booster seat for your children, then it really doesn't matter what the law states. Use a booster seat. While it may make sense cost wise to purchase one when you get here, if you are renting a car at the airport, you'll have a difficult time finding one before you get in the car the first time.

This is just another reason (one I hadn't considered) for not renting a car for your DL trip. Use the shuttles. If you've got to go somewhere different, take a cab.