The Naperville Police Department is committed to keeping our residents safe, and one of the ways we do that is by helping make sure that our youngest residents are as protected as possible when they’re traveling by vehicle.
Child safety seats, when used and installed correctly, can prevent injury and often death in the event of a motor vehicle crash. However, misuse of child safety seats is widespread. It is estimated that nearly 4 out of 5 children who are placed in child safety seats are improperly restrained.
The Naperville Police Department recently had several members of the department complete the rigorous certification to be a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). Our mission is to provide residents the knowledge and hands-on experience of how to property install a child safety seat to prevent injury and a possible fatality.
Naperville residents can now schedule an appointment to have their child seats inspected by a CPS technician. During this inspection, the certified technician will ensure the child seat is safe to install and that there are no manufacturer recalls. The technicians will then demonstrate how to properly install the child seat in your vehicle. Once installed correctly, the child seat is then removed, and the parent or guardian will then follow the technician’s instructions to properly install the car seat. Educating the caregiver on proper installation of the child seat is incredibly important to ensure parents/caregivers are confident and comfortable installing, reinstalling, and using their child safety seat correctly.
Technicians will also discuss the next steps for your child as your little one outgrows their current child seat. They will also discuss current State of Illinois laws motorists should be aware of, like the one requiring all children under age 8 to be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint system and the recent 2019 amendment of the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act that requires all children under age 2 to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system unless certain height or weight criteria are met.
For more information or to schedule a child safety seat inspection, visit www.naperville.il.us/asafernaper.
