Get the Right Fit: Car Seat Checks Offered in Salinas During Child Passenger Safety Week

Free help from certified technicians on Saturday, Sept. 26

Is your child’s car seat installed correctly? Many parents aren’t sure, and it’s a question worth answering. This week, Sept. 21-27 is Child Passenger Safety Week, and the County of Monterey Health Department is encouraging families to make sure every child is riding in the right car seat, booster seat, or properly fitted seat belt for their age and size.

Get your car seat checked in Salinas

On Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, certified child passenger safety technicians from the County of Monterey Health Department will be at Natividad Hospital Parking Lot E at 1441 Constitution Blvd. in Salinas to inspect car seat installations. They’ll show parents and caregivers how to install a seat correctly and can help you choose the right one for your child’s age and size. The event is from 10 AM-1 PM.

“When it comes to protecting our youngest passengers, there is no room for guesswork,” said Julia Muruato, County of Monterey Child Passenger Safety Program Supervisor. “Child Passenger Safety Week is a good reminder of how critical it is to choose the right car seat and ensure it is installed properly.”

Why it matters

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of all car seats (46%) are misused. Correct installation makes a real difference. Properly installed car seats reduce fatal injury crashes by 71% for infants under 1 and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4.

California car seat requirements

Under current California law:

• Children under 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless they weigh 40 or more pounds or are 40 or more inches tall.
• Children under 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the vehicle’s back seat.
• Children 8 and older, or those at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may use a booster seat but must, at minimum, be secured with a safety belt.

What’s changing in 2027

Beginning January 1, 2027, AB 435 will require children ages 8 to 16 to pass the 5-Step Test before they can use a seat belt without a booster seat. Parents and caregivers can start using the 5-Step Test questions now to find out whether their child is ready to ride without a booster.

Learn more

• Visit the County of Monterey Car Seat Program for information on getting a car seat.
• Find traffic safety information and free educational materials at gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.