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Child Seat Inspection
CHILDPASSSAFETY

82%

Of

Child Safety Seats are used

INCORRECTLY

 

 safetyseat



Proper Child Safety Seat Use

 

Children under 12 are safest when properly restrained in the back seat of a vehicle. No child should ever be placed rear facing if there is an airbag.

Seat Types
Description

Stage 1:

Rear-Facing Infant

 These seats are designed for infants from birth to about 27 inches and up to 20 pounds. These seats must always be used in the rear-facing position. These seats may come with or without a removable base. Use only to weight and height limits specified by the manufacturer. Use only until the infant's head is within an inch of the top of the shell. Infants should remain rear facing until they are at least 20 pounds and a year old. Infants less than a year old who weigh over 20 pounds or have reached the height limitation of an infant seat should use a rear-facing convertible seat.
Note: Never place a rear-facing infant seat in the front seat with a passenger-side air bag. Serious injuries or death may result if the air bag inflates.
Stage 2:

Convertible		 These seats can be used for both infants and toddlers. Most convertible seats are designed for rear-facing use with infants 5 pounds to 30-35 pounds and for forward facing use for toddlers who are over 1 year old, weighing between 20 pounds to 40 pounds. Follow manufacturer's instructions for use and installation.
Stage 3:

Forward Facing Only		 These seats are used for children who are at least one year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Recommendations for use vary so it is important to check manufacturers' instructions for use. Some forward-facing child seats are also combination seats. This seat is used with a 5-point harness for children up to 40 pounds and for children, who weigh over 40 pounds, the internal harness is removed and the seat becomes a belt positioning booster seat, used with the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt. Special note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride in a forward-facing child safety seat with the full internal harness until they reach the manufacturer's recommendations for upper size limits.
Stage 4:

Booster		 These seats are used for children who have exceeded the height or weight limits of convertible and forward-facing seats and provide a transition from child restraints with internal harnesses to the vehicle lap and shoulder belt. Most children ages 4 to 8, approximately 40-80 pounds and less then 4'9" will require a belt positioning booster seat for correct lap/shoulder belt fit.
Note: Never use a booster seat with just the lap belt.

New York State Law
All Children age 6 and under must be in a CSS or booster seat unless:
  • Over 100 lbs
  • Over 4’9” tall (57”)
  • Over 40 lbs and forced to sit in a seating position that does not have a shoulder belt. (Center position in many back seats when the outboard seats are already occupied.)
Booster seats should NOT be used with a lap belt only. The child should be moved to a seating position that has a shoulder belt, where a booster seat can be used. If no shoulder belt positions are available, the child over 40 lbs should be buckled with the lap belt and no booster seat should be used.

No child should ever be rear facing in front of an airbag.

A vehicle's safety belts are not defined as a child restraint system under this law, as safety belts are not designed for children under 4'9" and therefore, do not protect young children.

All children age 7 – 15 must wear a seat belt. (Ticket goes to the driver)

All occupants in front seat must wear a seat belt.

Although New York does NOT have a law preventing children from sitting in the front seat, it is highly recommended that all children age 12 and under ride properly restrained in the back seat. Researchers estimate that just by putting a child in the back seat instead of the front seat reduces the chance of injury and death by more than 30%.

MORE INFORMATION ON CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEATS


The Rotterdam Police Department is now a certified
Car Seat Fitting Station and offers free safety inspections.


Child safety seat inspections are conducted by the Rotterdam Police Department by appointment only. In addition to our certified car seat fitting station, please visit the New York State Traffic Safety Committee web site at www.safeny.com for a listing of certified car seat fitting stations in the capital region.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Rotterdam Police Department Community Services Unit at 355-7421.

Child Passenger Safety Technicians are certified by The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA)







Contact:
Robert Dufek
Sergeant
101 Princetown Rd
Rotterdam, NY 12306
518-355-7331