California Advances Bill to Tighten Child Passenger Safety Rules
The proposed legislation, now under Assembly Appropriations review, mandates stricter booster seat and front-seat restrictions for children and teens starting in 2027.
- Assembly Bill 435, authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson, passed the Assembly Transportation Committee with unanimous Democratic support while Republicans abstained.
- The bill would require children under 10 to use booster seats, ban children under 13 from the front seat, and mandate booster seats for children up to 13 unless they meet specific size criteria.
- Teens up to age 16 would be barred from the front seat unless they pass a 'five-step test' assessing their size and seatbelt fit to ensure safety.
- Critics have raised concerns about potential racial profiling during enforcement and the practical challenges of verifying a child’s age and size without identification.
- The bill, supported by traffic safety advocates and modeled on similar laws in Louisiana and Minnesota, aims for implementation in 2027 with fines starting at $20 for violations.
CalMatters 
Almanac News 
