carseat regulations in Cal.??

[TwinsRmyLife]

Any advice from residents of California or anyone that might know this. Most of our trip to Disneyland in May we will be using transfers so my kids (6yrs old) will be fine on the busses. my question is we were thinking about renting a car for a day, what are your laws for booster seats? will the car rental company have them. I really didn't want to bring ours with us. they are 40lbs and 48lbs, where I live it is still the law that they are in boosters and obviously I want them to be safe when we are driving down there. thanks for any advice

 

[tortugaverde]

Any advice from residents of California or anyone that might know this. Most of our trip to Disneyland in May we will be using transfers so my kids (6yrs old) will be fine on the busses. my question is we were thinking about renting a car for a day, what are your laws for booster seats? will the car rental company have them. I really didn't want to bring ours with us. they are 40lbs and 48lbs, where I live it is still the law that they are in boosters and obviously I want them to be safe when we are driving down there. thanks for any advice

I am pretty sure any rental car company will rent booster seats as well. Buses do not require seat belts or car seats for anyone.

Car seats are really easy to travel with, just check them as baggage on the plane

 

[CAmom2boys]

The law states that once they are 6 yrs old (or 60 lbs) they can ride with a seatbelt alone. However, that is not necessarily the safest way for your children to travel. My 7 yr old (at 80 pounds) does not fit properly in a seatbelt yet. The car rental agency may have something for you to rent but you won't know the seat's history. I would sugest either packing backless boosters in your luggage, or stopping by WalMart when you arrive. They are no more than $25 and your children are worth it. Enjoy your trip!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Agreeing with CAmom2boys ~ reguardless of the law if a child is not the size of a small adult a cars seat belt will not work for them (belts are made for adults not children). I'm a child passenger safety tech ~ my almost 8 year old still uses a harnessed seat in my car 2 backless boosters shouldn't be too hard to manage. Have a fun, safe trip!

 

[TwinsRmyLife]

Thanks for the responses! I wouldn't dream of not having them in a booster. The age is 9 here in BC, so we're a long way off from having them in regular seatbelts. basically wanted to know if you could rent them along with a car rental. mabye we'll decide its easier to just bus it rather than bringing ours down, we only wanted the car for one afternoon anyway to do some sightseeing, mabye go to the beach.

 

[pixiewings71]

6 yrs or 60 lbs but I left my girls in boosters until they were 8 yrs old each. Also, I have heard that the magic number is 4'9" but I have been unable to confirm that as yet. I need to call my insurance company and ask them.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Any advice from residents of California or anyone that might know this. Most of our trip to Disneyland in May we will be using transfers so my kids (6yrs old) will be fine on the busses. my question is we were thinking about renting a car for a day, what are your laws for booster seats? will the car rental company have them. I really didn't want to bring ours with us. they are 40lbs and 48lbs, where I live it is still the law that they are in boosters and obviously I want them to be safe when we are driving down there. thanks for any advice

Other CA driving safety laws you may or may not have in your home state:

Starting July 1, 2008 (and already in place in some counties and cities) you may not operate a cell phone without a hands free device while driving.

It is illegal to smoke in a car with a minor.

If your wipers are on you MUST turn on your headlights.

Drive safe!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I always thought it was 6yrs and 60# so don't tell my DD8. She's 4'-0" and only 50# so she's still in a booster seat. They've been running alot of ads here in California though that recommend stricter guidelines. I did a search and here's what I found

In 2002, after considerable agency-wide discussion and dialogue with key national partner organizations, NHTSA revised its best practice recommendation for booster seat use. The updated recommendation is: “All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4’ 9” tall.”

So while the law is 6 yrs, or 60#, the recommendation is also that they are at least 4'9" before they get out of booster seat. I figure my DD8 will need a booster seat to take her driver's test! If she wasn't in a booster seat, she wouldn't be able to see out the windows (and then she'd get carsick ) and noone wants to see that!

As to getting one from the car rental agency, you can. I've never done it in Florida (Alamo) however since they charge $10/day; $50 max (plus tax) we always bring ours from home and check it with our luggage (wrapped in a plastic bag airline provides). Or you could pick one up at WM or Target for less than $50. The one I use was less that $20 at Target and even has cup holders.

 

[DevilDuckie]

I always thought it was 6yrs and 60# so don't tell my DD8. She's 4'-0" and only 50# so she's still in a booster seat. They've been running alot of ads here in California though that recommend stricter guidelines. I did a search and here's what I found

You can always point out to DD8 that just like Federal trumps State, Mom trumps EVERYTHING. Do not make Mom cranky or you will be the only high school freshman in a booster!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Too true!

 

[kwonyong]

Thanks for the information my 8 year old is 4'1" and 54lb so I guess she should really be in a booster seat to keep her safe.

 

[Bugsmom73]

In IL the law is 8 year or 80lbs. Both kids will be in boosters until they fit properly in a car without them.

 

[Sunobo]

Both of my kids (10 & 8) are still in boosters in the van. The seatbelts are weird and don't fit them properly without the booster. My older dd rides without the booster in dh's car but younger dd still uses it there.

 

[cmwade77]

If your wipers are on you MUST turn on your headlights.

I live here and did not know this one! I always do anyway, as in my car the headlights are the always on kind, of course they are slightly brighter if I switch them on with the switch, but not enough to notice in the day time, but interesting none the less.

Also, I believe they are trying to change it to 8 or 80 lbs. here as well.

Also a slight clarification, here it is is 6 AND 60 lbs., meaning that if your child does not meet BOTH requirements then they must be in a booster seat. (And I know many of our Highway Patrol have scales in their cars, I do not know about the local police though) This was told to us by a CHP officer, luckily he didn't give my parent's tickets, as they did not know and my sister was not of the proper weight, he let them off with a warning.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Also a slight clarification, here it is is 6 AND 60 lbs., meaning that if your child does not meet BOTH requirements then they must be in a booster seat. (And I know many of our Highway Patrol have scales in their cars, I do not know about the local police though) This was told to us by a CHP officer, luckily he didn't give my parent's tickets, as they did not know and my sister was not of the proper weight, he let them off with a warning.

That's what I thought too but in looking it up the other day on official government websites, they say 6 or 60#. To me that doesn't make sense since the size (and really the height) is more the issue as to wether they can use the seatbelt properly. It dosen't matter to me, DD8 will be in a booster until she's 4'9". No matter what her age or weight.

FYI This is what I read on CHP website

New law beginning January 1, 2005

It says…

Children MUST be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) IN THE BACK SEAT OF A VEHICLE until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds.

�� �� V.C. 27360(a) Cite parent/guardian for each child who is not properly restrained in the rear seat unless the child is six years or older or weighs 60 pounds or more.
As of January 1, 2005, each child is required to be properly restrained in
the back seat unless child is six years or older or weighs 60 pounds or more.

So that's where I got my info (along with several other sites)

 

[pixiewings71]

My co-workers dh is a police officer, according to him it's 6 years or 60 lbs. The 4'9" thing is new and harder for them to enforce, right now they are giving warnings.

 

[Dizneydaz]

My co-workers dh is a police officer, according to him it's 6 years or 60 lbs. The 4'9" thing is new and harder for them to enforce, right now they are giving warnings.

Thanks for the clarification. I know I've been telling other parents that it's 6 & 60 lbs. I was surprised to see it was or. So is the 4'9" the law? Just wondering, as I previously posted, DD8 will be using her booster until she's at least 60# and 4'9". Except of course in school busses, where she's allowed to ride unrestrained (don't even get me started on that!)

Have a great trip to DLR! The weather for the next 7 days is great, so hope it stays the same for your trip!

 

[pixiewings71]

I guess it's the new law. I just saw a billboard for it myself this past weekend.

I personally used the 8 or 80 lbs guideline. So, my DD11 used a booster until she was 9 and 50 lbs and my DD8 used her booster until her birthday. When she turned 8 we stopped using it. I need to measure both girls to see how tall they are....they are getting taller but neither one is 4'11" yet......we may be putting them both back in their boosters.....which will not go over well but oh well! LOL

 

[tortugaverde]

Thanks for the clarification. I know I've been telling other parents that it's 6 & 60 lbs. I was surprised to see it was or. So is the 4'9" the law? Just wondering, as I previously posted, DD8 will be using her booster until she's at least 60# and 4'9". Except of course in school busses, where she's allowed to ride unrestrained (don't even get me started on that!)

Have a great trip to DLR! The weather for the next 7 days is great, so hope it stays the same for your trip!

I by no means want to start any kind of debate... just want to share a different perspective on the no seat belts on the bus thing.
I was a school bus driver for a while in college. I thought the same way before I was a driver... however, after my training I thought differently. Buses are designed to keep the kid within the seat area. If the child is sitting, facing forward and not leaning out into the isle... the child should be safe. Buses are HEAVY and big... in an accident, they will not generally have much damage. IF there was an accident, in which students had to leave the bus in a very timely manner (fire, water, smoke etc.) there would be NO WAY the bus driver could get around the bus to unbuckle all the young ones in seat belts. Nor could a bus driver be in charge of making sure everyone was buckled in at all times.
Ideally, schools should provided buses with seat belts with an automatic unlock. Schools should provide bus aids to help monitor student behavior and seat belt usage. Schools should have more buses available so students don't have to sit three to a seat. Alas, schools generally don't have enough money for even the cheapest of these... a bus aide.

Just my two cents... had to share