Sorry to the kids who just want to get out of that booster seat already! One state is increasing child booster seat laws. If parents are caught in traffic as their kids improperly wear seatbelts, they could face fines up to $490. 

California increases child booster seat laws 

Middle school is already brutal as puberty causes hormones to rage. Now in California, smaller kids could be spotted in booster seats as they get dropped off and picked up by their parents. 

However, a new California child seat booster law isn’t trying to embarrass smaller kids. Instead, it’s trying to keep them safe in the event of a car accident. 

It is changing the way police officers determine if a child is tall enough to wear a seatbelt while riding in a vehicle. According to Cal Matters, the old standards require children to use booster seats until they turn eight or reach a height of 4’ 9”. 

In 2027, children between the ages of 8 and 16 will have to pass a five-step test to ensure a seatbelt properly restrains them: 

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the seat? 
2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat? 
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm to rest on the collarbone? 
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs? 
5. Can the child remain seated this way for the entire trip? 

If drivers can’t say yes to these questions, then police officers may fine them up to $490. The bill aims to encourage parents to keep children in booster seats until they’re tall enough to properly fit in seat belts. 

Numerous studies show children in car wrecks are more likely to be severely injured or killed. That’s because seat belts aren’t designed for smaller frames.