State Law Puts Older Children Back in Car Seats

For all the parents of 6- and 7-year-olds, your days of using car booster seats aren't over.

A new state law that takes effect Jan. 1 will mandate that all children under the age of 8 must remain in the back seat in a booster seat.

The new rules bring California in line with 30 other states, which also require children under the age of 8 to stay in the safety seats. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill, SB 929, into law on Oct. 4.

There are a few exemptions under the new guidelines. A judge may rule that it would be impractical for a child to be such restrained due to physical unfitness, medical condition or size. And any child under age 8 who is 4-foot, 11-inches or taller may be secured using a standard seat belt. There is no longer a weight exemption.

According to a news release from the Cal State San Bernardino police department, studies have shown that children are far more likely to be restrained in age-appropriate restraints, such as car seats and booster seats, if State law requires their use. Many people rely on state laws to guide them in determining how to best protect their children.

The number one killer of children in the United States is vehicle collisions, the release says. Young children are too small for seat belts that are made to fit adults, and are subject to severe injury or death if improperly restrained. If the seat belt is across the child's waist instead of across the hips or thigh bones, they could suffer damage to internal organs and/or a spinal cord injury if involved in a collision.

Booster seats are 60 percent safer than seat belts alone, according to the release. A booster seat is a child restraint that raises a child up so that the vehicle's lap/shoulder belt is properly positioned across the strong bones of their body.