If you or anyone you know would like to make sure your child's car seat is properly installed and safe, stop by the Utica Police Station this Saturday.

From noon until 4 p.m. on January 3, 2015, parents and guardians can bring their vehicles in, with or without a child, and have their child safety seats checked for proper installation and safety.  There is no fee for the service.

There will be signs at the station directing drivers to the Child Safety Seat Check Point.

If you are not certain whether or not your child should be in a car seat, New York residents can consult the New York State Occupant Restraint Law guidelines at: Safe NY.  As of this posting the guidelines include, but are not limited to the following:

  • In the front seat, the driver and each passenger must wear a seat belt, one person per belt. The driver and front-seat passengers aged 16 or older can be fined up to $50 each for failure to buckle up.
  • Every occupant, regardless of age or seating position, of a motor vehicle being operated by the holder of a Class-DJ Learner Permit, a Limited Class-DJ, or Class-DJ Driver License must be restrained by a safety restraint.
  • Each passenger under age 16 must wear a seat belt or use an appropriate child safety restraint system. The restraint system must comply with the child height and weight recommendations determined by the manufacturer. Depending on the size of the child, the restraint system may be a safety seat or a booster seat used in combination with a lap and shoulder belt.
  • The driver must make sure that each passenger under age 16 obeys the law. The driver can be fined $25 to $100 and receive three driver license penalty points for each violation.
  • Seat belt use is not required in taxis or livery vehicles, emergency vehicles, 1964 or older vehicles, or by passengers in buses other than school buses (seat belt use may be required by the school district). Rural letter Carriers are also exempt while they are delivering mail.

If you still have questions call Utica Police at: (315) 735.3301.

 

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