Ventura County Fire Department - Community Education

Child Passenger Safety

The law requires any child who is under 6 years of age and weighs less than 60 pounds to be secured in a child passenger restraint system. If the child is at least 6 years of age or weights 60 or more pounds, that child is not required to be secured by a child passenger restraint but instead by a vehicle passenger restraint.

Examples:

• A 5 year old child weighing 50 pounds is required to be in a child passenger restraint system
• A 5 year old child weighing 65 pounds is not required to be in a child passenger restraint system
• A 6 year old child weighing 50 pounds is not required to be in a child passenger restraint system
• A 6 year old child weighing 65 pounds is not required to be in a child passenger restraint system

There are three exceptions to the new law:

When a child passenger restraint would be considered impractical by reason of size and physical or medical conditions
When a child is being transported in an authorized emergency vehicle, but secured by a seat belt
When a child weighting more than 40 pounds is transported in the back seat of a vehicle while wearing only a lap safety belt when the back seat of the vehicle is not equipped with a combination lap and shoulder belt

Children should be in car booster seats if they:

• Are too big for a child safety seat
• Weigh about 40 – 60 pound

Car booster seats must be used in conjunction with the vehicles lap and shoulder belt. The booster seat raises the child so that the vehicle lap and shoulder belt can be positioned properly and comfortably, and the child’s knees can bend naturally. There are two common types of car booster seats to use depending on your car

Backless Booster Seat

• If your car's seat back is higher than your child's ears you can use a backless booster set

High-Back Booster Seat

• If your car's back seat is lower than your child's ears, use a high back booster seat to help protect your child's head and neck

Safety Rules

• Children need to be placed in an appropriate seat every time they take a ride
• Infants that are under a year old and 20pounds are to be placed in a rear facing position
• Rear facing seats are to be tilted at a 45 degree angle
• Remember that the back seat is the safest place for all children to ride
• Always secure an empty safety seat in place
• Never place a child in front of an air bag
• If your child’s safety seat is in a crash, replace it
• Only carry the same number of passengers in your car that here are seat belts
• Only one person per seat belt, no sharing

If you have any questions regarding child passenger restraints or would like assistance with installing a child passenger seat call the Ventura County Fire Department, Office of Community Education at (805) 389-9748.