California Seatbelt & Child Seat Laws
Primary vs secondary seatbelt enforcement, which seats are covered, and child-seat / booster age and weight thresholds.
- Seatbelt law enforcement
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primary
Source: California Driver's Handbook (2025), Section 8: Safe Driving (Seat Belts), p. 65.
- Seats required to belt
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all seats
Source: California Driver's Handbook (2025), Section 8: Safe Driving (Seat Belts), p. 65.
- Child seat: age threshold
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8
- Booster seat: weight threshold
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California does not set a booster-seat requirement by weight. The transition point out of a child passenger restraint system (booster included) is age 8 or a height of 4 feet 9 inches, whichever comes first. Weight only appears earlier in the sequence, as one of the thresholds that lets a child leave a rear-facing seat: a child may face forward once they are at least 2 years old, 40 pounds, and 3 feet 4 inches tall.
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