The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to participate in National Seat Check Saturday on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Garwood First Aid Squad, 401 2nd Avenue in Garwood. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians from the Union County Department of Public Safety will be on hand to provide free car seat inspections and hands-on instruction to parents and caregivers. No appointment is necessary.
“Car seats and booster seats save lives, but only if they are used correctly,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “Through programs like National Seat Check Saturday and our weekly inspection center, Union County gives parents and caregivers the peace of mind that their children are safe on the road.”
In addition to the National Seat Check Saturday event, Union County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is available year-round at the Garwood First Aid Squad. Inspections are offered every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and no appointment is required. According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, nearly half of all child safety seats are installed or used incorrectly, while properly used car seats and boosters significantly reduce the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.
Under New Jersey law, children under age 2 and weighing less than 30 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing seat with a five-point harness. Children under age 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds must remain in a rear- or forward-facing seat with a five-point harness until they outgrow it. Children under age 8 and less than 57 inches tall must be secured in a forward-facing seat with a harness or in a booster seat. Once a child reaches age 8 or 57 inches in height, they may use a properly fitted seat belt. It is also recommended that children under age 13 ride in the back seat. Violations of the law carry fines between $50 and $75.
Caregivers are reminded that all car seats and boosters have expiration dates. A manufacturer’s label on the back or bottom of the seat provides the date of manufacture and/or expiration date, and expired seats should not be used as they may compromise safety.
The Child Safety Seat Inspection Program was first launched in 1999 and is a partnership between the Union County Board of County Commissioners, the Union County Police Department, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, 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.