Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington

Police Department

Safety and Crime Prevention - Bicyclist/Internet/Child Safety

Child Car Seat Safety

State Law Requires Child Passenger Restraints

The Legislature recognizes that many deaths of children under the age of 16 years can be eliminated if they use an appropriate child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt.

By law, it is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle to ensure that all children under the age of 16 are properly restrained in accordance with the regulations below.

Washington’s Child Restraint Law, RCW 46.61.687, was amended June 1, 2007 and requires:

• Children from birth to age 8, unless they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall first, be in an approved child restraint, for example a car seat or booster seat that is utilized according to the child restraint and vehicle manufacuturers instructions.
• Because a booster seat requires both the lap AND shoulder belt, children over 40 pounds riding in a vehicle with lap only seat belts must wear the belt properly but are excused from the requirement to use a booster seat.
• When the child reaches either age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall they must be able to properly wear the vehicle's shoulder and lap belt or continue to ride in a child restraint.  (The seat belt law also requires proper fit the shoulder belt should never be worn across the neck, behind the back or under the arm as this can cause serious injury in a crash. This is true for people of all ages.**
• Children under 13 years of age shall ride in the back seat, when practical.

** The seat belt properly fits across the lap and the shoulder strap crosses the center of the chest.

The "5 Steps for Kids" recommendations are:

1. Rear-facing seats in the back seat from birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds, preferebly to 30 pounds.
2. Forward-facing toddler seats in the back seat for children 30 to 40 pounds
3. Booster seats in the back seat in a lap and shoulder belt position from 40 pounds until the seat belt fits correctly (usually at least 4'9").
4. Seat belts for children taller than 4'9".
5. All children 12 and under shall ride in the back seat.

Car Seat Safety Events

*Note:  Attendance at a VPD Car Seat Safety Class is a prerequisite for attending the Car Seat Clinic.

Here are some important things for you to know about these events. We want to make these events to be as smooth as possible, and we appreciate your cooperation.

• We have a one hour class that runs from 9-10 am. This class is required to attend the clinic. There is no pre-registration for this class. It is a first-come, first-served basis.
• The Class is held inside the Education Building and begins promptly at 9 a.m. The Education Building is located off of Mill Plain Blvd. Head North on 92^nd Avenue and turn into the parking lot. The Education Building is on South side of the building. (To the left as you face the front entrance of the hospital.)
• We have some car seats available to low income people that live within the city limits of Vancouver.
• We can check anyone’s seat – you do not have to be from the City of Vancouver to attend the class/clinic. The clinic starts at 10 a.m. 
• We take 30 to 45 minutes per seat. If there is a car ahead of you with lots of kids, it will take us a while to get through that vehicle. We are an education service, not an installation service. We will show you how to install and use your car seat.
• Children need to be present to receive a car seat. They do not have to be at the class, but they need to be at the clinic.
• Children need to be watched at all times in the parking garage as there are cars that drive through.
• Children need to remain in the seat they arrived in, or be put back in seat when technician arrives.
• There are restrooms in the Education building.
• If we are replacing a seat because is it determined to be unsafe, the old seat will be taken and destroyed.
• If you have a fairly high number, you can leave and come back, but please let us know if you are doing that. Keep your number and show it to us when you return
• We try to estimate how many car seats that we will need to bring to any given clinic. We apologize if we did not have the seat that you needed.