Car Seat Inspections

Car Seat Safety

Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S.; however, many of these deaths can be prevented. To reduce risk of serious injury and death, it is important to have your child’s car seat or booster seat properly installed and your child’s seat belt restraint correctly buckled. 

Before installation, check your car seat and vehicle owner's manual, which will provide detailed information on how to properly install the car seat and the safest location in the vehicle to do so.

Unsure of what car seat is appropriate for your child? Visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/car-seats-and-booster-seats for more information.

Car Seat Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does my child have to stay rear facing?
    • Under CVC 27360 (b), all children under the age of two years old must ride in a car seat in a rear-facing position. Best practice is to continue to keep your child rear facing until either the height or weight is maxed out, prior to switching to forward facing (refer to the car seat manual for height and weight limits).
  • Should my car seat be able to move back and forth when installed?
    • Once installed with either the lower anchors or seat belt, the car seat should be tested from the belt path and move no more than 1-inch side to side.
  • How do I properly buckle my child?
    • The chest clip should be located on the middle of the chest in between your child's armpits (not at their stomach). The shoulder strap should be able to pass the "pinch test." Once the seat belt is buckled and tightened, you should not be able to pinch any excess on the strap at the shoulders.
  • When can my child switch to a booster?
    • When your child exceeds the height or weight of their forward-facing car seat, they can then be buckled into a booster seat with a seat belt. They should continue to use a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without the booster. A seat belt fits properly when the lap belt is across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt is across the center of the shoulder and chest (not across the neck or face, and not off the shoulder). This usually occurs when children are between 9 and 12 years old.                                                                                                                                                        

Need help installing your car seat or have questions about child passenger safety? Schedule an appointment with one of our child passenger safety technicians for a FREE car seat installation at Communityrelations@tustinca.org 

In preparation for your appointment, we will ask for the following:

  • Vehicle make and model that the car seat is being installed
  • Vehicle manual, if available
  • Model and make of the car seat
  • Car seat manual, if available
  • Children can be present at the appointment to demonstrate proper buckling procedures