But beginning in 2027, children from 8 to 16 years old will have to pass a five-step test to be considered properly restrained by a seat belt under California law. If the driver of a vehicle can't answer yes to all of these five questions about their seat-belted child passenger, the driver could get a ticket and fines of $490.
Car seats are there for a lot: every traffic-induced meltdown, every spilled juice box, every road trip nap. Most importantly, they save lives. But while it's tempting to treat them like any other piece of kid gear when messes strike, they're not just another item you can toss in the wash. They're precision-built safety devices, and one misstep can compromise the parts designed to protect your child.
