Nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly. The Orange County Sheriff's Department is urging parents across the county, including Newport Beach families, to double-check their setups during Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Monday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Sept. 27.
The OC Sheriff's Department announced the campaign on Sept. 18, citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data showing 46% of car seats are misused. No Newport Beach-specific inspection event was announced, but free resources are available at locations across Orange County.
"When it comes to protecting our youngest passengers, there is no room for guesswork," Traffic Bureau Sergeant Ishii said in the department's announcement.
Properly installed car seats reduce fatal crash injuries by 71% for infants under one year old and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 through 4, according to NHTSA.
California car seat law
Children under 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they weigh 40 or more pounds or stand 40 or more inches tall. All children under 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children 8 and older, or at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, must wear at least a safety belt.
A new law tightens those rules. Assembly Bill 435, signed in October 2025, takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
It requires children ages 8 to 16, according to the Sheriff's Department, to pass a five-step fit test before riding with just a seat belt. The test checks whether the child's back sits fully against the vehicle seat and knees bend at the seat edge. It also checks that the lap belt rests on the upper thighs, the shoulder belt crosses the chest and shoulder, and the child can stay seated that way for the entire trip.
Failing any step means the child stays in a booster seat. The Sheriff's Department is encouraging families to start using the test now, ahead of the effective date.
Where to get a free inspection
Newport Beach parents looking for a car seat check will need to travel to nearby cities. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) offers free inspections by appointment with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician at locations in Santa Ana, Tustin, Irvine, Aliso Viejo and Ladera Ranch, according to the OCFA's car seat program page.
The OC Health Care Agency's Buckle OC program offers free car seats for low-income families enrolled in WIC, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, CalFresh or the Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program. The agency also runs court-approved classes for car seat violators.
Families can contact the OC Health Care Agency at [email protected] or consult the Orange County Child Passenger Resource Guide for the closest inspection site.
