The Susanville office of the California Highway Patrol invites parents and caregivers to a Child Safety Seat Checkup Event scheduled for Tuesday, January 20th.
The event will take place at the Susanville CHP Office from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.
This is a fantastic opportunity for the community to have child safety seats inspected by professionals. CHP officers will be on-site to ensure seats are properly installed, secured, and meet all current safety guidelines to keep your little ones safe on the road.
No appointment is needed—residents are encouraged to drop by during the event hours.
Know the Law: Current California Requirements
Keeping up with car seat regulations can be tricky. Here is a breakdown of the current California Vehicle Code requirements regarding child passenger safety:
Under 2 Years Old: Children must ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. They must be secured according to the manufacturer’s height and weight limits. (CVC Section 27360)
Under 8 Years Old: Children must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.
8 Years Old OR 4’9” Tall: Children may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt. (CVC Section 27363)
16 Years and Older: All passengers are subject to California’s Mandatory Seat Belt law.
When Should My Child Graduate to a Booster?
While California law does not specify an exact time to move from a five-point harness to a booster seat, the CHP offers important advice: Do not rush.
“In the interest of safety, do not rush to move a child into a booster seat before they’re ready. Each time you ‘graduate’ your child to the next seat, there’s a reduction in the level of protection for your child. Keep your child in each stage for as long as possible.”
Guidelines for making the switch:
A child is generally ready for a booster when they have outgrown the height or weight limit of their forward-facing harness (typically between 40 and 65 pounds).
Always check the owner’s manual of your forward-facing seat to determine specific limits.
The Final Step: Adult Safety Belts
Children in the booster stage are not yet ready for adult safety belts. They should continue using belt-positioning booster seats until they are at least 4’9″ tall and between 8 and 12 years old.
It is important to remember that standard safety belts are designed for 165-pound male adults. Research consistently shows that poorly fitting adult belts can cause injury to children who are not yet large enough to wear them properly.
