Though not codified in California, the one year and twenty pound rule is hopefully on its way. AB 881, a new assembly bill, has passed the California Assembly and is currently in the Transportation and Housing committee of the California Senate. The text of the bill would make it a law to have your children rear facing until at least age one and twenty pounds. If it passes, and the Governor signs it, the law would take effect January of 2009.
That being said, depending on what the car seat manufactuer says in their instructions, turning your child forward facing before age one and twenty pounds is illegal. California Vehicle Code section 27360 requires children to be
properly secured when transported on the highway. Some manufactuer instructions require children to be rear facing until one year and twenty pounds. Britax manuals generally require rear facing until at least 20 pounds, with a recommendation from the AAP to be at least one year and twenty pounds. The Evenflo Triumph instructions require rear facing until one year and twenty pounds.
With the Triumph, because it is explicit, turning a child around before one year and twenty pounds, violates section 27360 of the vehicle code and is therefore illegal.
On a side note, California Vehicle Code section 27362, prohibits the selling of car seats that don't meet FMVSS. For those out there that find old nasty car seats on e-bay or Craigslist, you might want to let California sellers know about this law. In part, it states as follows: "(a) A manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer shall not sell, offer for sale, or install in a motor vehicle, a child passenger restraint system that does not conform to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards on the date of manufacture. Responsibility for compliance with this section shall rest with the individual selling the system, offering the system for sale, or installing the system." The maximum penalty upon conviction is 400 dollars and 90 days in jail. It doesn't pay to sell a bad seat in California. Should be a song lyric, no?