AB 293

Under current law, with certain exceptions, no child under the age of eight years

may be transported in a motor vehicle unless the child is properly restrained in a

child safety restraint system (car seat) or booster seat or by a safety belt (seat belt).

The type of restraint system required depends on the age and size of the child, with

more protective systems required for younger or smaller children and less protective

systems required for older or larger children. A child who is:

1. Less than one year old or who weighs less than 20 pounds must be properly

restrained in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is

equipped with a back seat.

2. At least one year old and weighs at least 20 pounds but is less than four years

old or weighs less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a forward-facing

car seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.

3. At least four years old but less than eight years old, weighs between 40 and

80 pounds, and is no more than four feet nine inches tall must be properly restrained

in a booster seat.

4. Under the age of eight and exceeds the weight or height limits specified in

item 3, above, must be properly restrained by a seat belt.

If a child, because of age, weight, or height, falls into more than one of these

categories, the child must be transported according to the requirements of the more

protective category.

This bill clarifies that a child may be transported in a more protective category

of restraint system than the minimum type of restraint system otherwise required.