New Child Safety Seat Law Kicks in Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, 2012, a new law in California will require that children under age 8 are buckled into a car or booster seat that is secured in a vehicle’s back seat.

Previously, the law required that children remain in a booster seat until the age of 6, or until they weighed 60 pounds.   

“This is an important new law that will impact more than 1.1 million children in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Keeping them in booster seats increases their chance of surviving a crash by 45 percent.” 

A child who is under 8 years old but 4 feet 9 inches or taller can use a lap/shoulder belt, but still has to ride in the back seat.

Most children impacted by the new law can remain in the booster seat they already use. If it is necessary to buy a new one, low-back boosters can be purchased at major retailers for $15 to $20 each.

A booster simply “boosts” a child up in order to make the adult-sized seat belt safely fit a child-sized body. The lap belt should cross a child’s hip bones, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should go across a child’s chest. If a child is putting the shoulder belt behind him or her, that is a sign the child still needs a booster.

According to the Office of Traffic Safety, drivers can be fined for more than $475 and receive a violation point if a child is not properly buckled in their car.

For more information about the new child safety seat law, car seats or booster seats, click here. 

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