Would a taxi in LA have an infant carrier (child safety seat) if you request one. ?

Vince M

You would only likely get one if the driver dispatched to you happened to have one in his trunk. IF the cab company had a car seat available in the office, then a driver would have to drive all the way TOO the office, and then to your pick up WITHOUT GETTING PAID FOR THIS EXTRA MILEAGE.

In most cities, including the greater LA area, drivers are NOT employees of the cab company. They are self-employed independant contractors. The company cannot compel a driver to do any driving they don't want to. AND, the legal drivers ONLY get paid according to what is on the meter. So, unless you would be willing to pay for the drivers extra mileage for him to pick up the car seat, you may have a LONG wait until the dispatcher can find a driver who happens to be carrying a car seat in his trunk. And, would you WANT to put your child in a car seat that has been sitting in a musty car trunk, with spare tires, extra oil cans, tools, etc, for who knows how long?

Essentialy, California law makes it the PARENT'S responsibility for assuring the child's safety in a taxicab. The cab driver is absolved from that responsibility as long as the parent is riding with the child.

George A

In most states that has child restraint laws, vehicles that are for use in public transportation are usually exempt from the law. However, CA IS NOT one of those states.

According to the CA Vehicle Code, taxis ARE NOT exempt from the child restraint laws, but the VC also does not indicate if the taxi company is responsible for providing a child restraint, that may be your responsibility.

Rental car agencies though are required to rent you a child seat if needed when you rent a vehicle in CA, per the CA Vehicle Code.

The fine for violating the child restraint laws in CA is $100 + penalty assessments (First offense). If the parent is in the vehicle, the citation will be issued to them, if not, it goes to the driver of the vehicle.

Vehicle Code Sections 27360-27368
http://www.carseat.org/Legal/6_sum_CA_Law.pdf
http://www.carseat.org/Legal/99_Enf.pdf

ketchupklf

Most likely not one you would want to put your child in. Rental seats are often dirty, missing pieces, the wrong type for your child or exipired. You have no way of knowing if they have been in an accident or have been recalled or any of a half a dozen other things you should know before using a carseat: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/usedseat.aspx

How will your child be gettng to LA in the first place? If you will be traveling by plane the thing to do about transporting your child safely is to buy him a ticket and bring his own carseat on the plane with you. You would never think to travel by car without one... and many experts recommend you shouldn't do so in a plane either.

The following quote is from this page which contains many other important facts and quotes: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplanetravel.aspx

"From the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Restraint Use on Aircraft: "Occupant protection policies for children younger than 2 years on aircraft are inconsistent with all other national policies on safe transportation. Children younger than 2 years are not required to be restrained or secured on aircraft during takeoff, landing, and conditions of turbulence. They are permitted to be held on the lap of an adult. Preventable injuries and deaths have occurred in children younger than 2 years who were unrestrained in aircraft during survivable crashes and conditions of turbulence.""

""The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a mandatory federal requirement for restraint use for children on aircraft. The Academy further recommends that parents ensure that a seat is available for all children during aircraft transport and follow current recommendations for restraint use for all children.""

If you still decide not to purchase a seat... most airlines will allow you to bring the seat to the gate and use an empty seat if one is available. The will also 'gate check' your carseat (you will need it to get him *to* the airport as well) if one is not available so that you will have it available as soon as you get off the plane. A rented seat from a taxi company shouldn't be necessary.

Hope that helps!

UCANTCME

No they would not..

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