Police, firefighters check child safety seats
Sep 24th, 2008 by Paul Leighton
Fire Chief Rick Pierce (back row, third from left) and Police Chief Mark Ray (fourth from left) were among the firefighters and police officers who teamed up last Saturday on a Child Passenger Safety checkpoint at the Memorial Building. Technicians from both departments installed 24 car seats and educated drivers on the the proper use of the seats and the laws that regulate child passengers in cars.
A police officer may stop a motor vehicle if a child is riding improperly restrained, and a driver can be fined $25 for each improperly restrained child, according to police. A child must be restrained in either a child safety seat or a booster seat that is properly fastened inside of the vehicle. Generally, this is until 8 years old or 57 inches tall.
The event was funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety.
A 2007 Executive Office of Public Safety and Security survey found only a 69 percent safety belt use rate among front seat occupants of all ages in Massachusetts, far lower than the national use rate of 82 percent.
The Beverly departments will hold other safety events throughout the year. If anyone has a question or would like to schedule an appointment, call the Fire Department at (978) 922-2424 or the Police Department at (978) 922-1212. For more information on child passenger safety, visit www.mass.gov and search child passenger safety or www.nhtsa.gov.
