UNION COUNTY, NJ— January 28, 2022 — After a small hiatus due to the rising positive Covid cases, Union County will once again kick off their Child Seat Inspection Program on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Earlier this morning, Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams and Commissioners Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Bette Jane Kowalski visited the inspection location, where Commissioner Mouded had two of her children’s car seats installed.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our children,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Statistics show that motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of deaths of children over the age of six months in the United States. So ensuring your child’s car seat is properly installed is of highest importance.”
The Union County Board of County Commissioners encourages residents to check their child car seats for proper installation by visiting the County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Program Center, located at the Garwood Rescue Squad at 401 2nd Avenue in Garwood. The program will run every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and no appointment is necessary. Covid protocols are still in place and masks for staff and all adults attending are required.
“It is a parent’s greatest responsibility to keep our children safe,” said Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “The Car Seat Inspection Program is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our children. I hope you come and take advantage, as I did, and allow our experts to help with the installation and provide any safety additional tips you may need going forward.”
Under the New Jersey Child Passenger Safety Law:
- Any child under the age of 8 years old and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as follows in the rear seat of a motor vehicle:
- A child under the age of 2 years and 30 pounds shall be secured in a rear-facing seat equipped with a 5-point harness.
- A child under the age of 4 years and 40 pounds shall be secured as described in (a) until they reach the upper limits of the rear-facing seat, then in a forward-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness.
- A child under the age of 8 and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as described in (a) or (b) until they reach the upper limits of the rear-facing or forward-facing seat, then in a belt positioning booster seat.
- A child over 8 years of age or 57 inches in height must be properly secured by a seat belt.
All car seats and boosters have expiration dates. Parents or guardians should only buy a used car seat if they can verify the age of the seat. There should be a manufacturer’s label on the back or bottom of the seat that gives the manufacture date and/or specific expiration date.
“Union County has expert staff who keep up to date on new laws and car seat technology,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski. “This is the kind of information that will keep our children safe and protected in a vehicle.”
First launched in 1999, the Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is a service of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, Union County Police Department, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, AAA Northeast – NJ Division, and the Garwood First Aid Squad.
For more information about the Safety Seat Inspection Program and other services visit online at ucnj.org/childseats or contact Christine Marcantonio, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, by email at cmarcantonio@ucnj.org or by phone at 908-789-6830.
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For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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