During Child Passenger Safety Week, which began Sunday and will go through to Sept. 23, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will help parents and caregivers with installing child safety seats.

Children are vulnerable to injury in a crash when they are in the wrong type of car seat for their age and size or if the car seat is installed improperly. We are here to offer parents and caregivers guidance and reassurances that their child is as safe as possible while riding in the car.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of car seats (46%) are misused.

California law requires all children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. Parents are encouraged to keep your child in rear- and forward-facing seats as long as possible. Children 8 and older or who are at least 4 feet, 9 inches in height, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be wearing a properly fitted safety belt.

To search for car seat programs in your county, visit the Office of Traffic Safety website. You may also contact your local CHP Area Office to schedule a free child safety seat inspection.

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