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Car Seat Inspection
73% of car seats are not used or installed correctly.
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children 1 to 19 years old.
The Alpena County Sheriff's Office has been conducting car seat inspections, free of charge since 2002. This program is to teach parents the importance of how to properly install child car seats. The Alpena County Sheriff's office has three certified car seat technicians that are available to inspect your car seat. If you would like to schedule a car seat inspection you can email Undersheriff Cash Kroll or call him at 989-354-9872.
- How old do children have to be before they no longer need a car seat?
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A child must ride in a car seat or booster seat until they reach the age of 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first.
- How do I determine what kind of car seat my child needs?
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Each car seat is labeled with a maximum height and weight. Make sure the car seat is appropriate for your child's weight and height.
- How do I schedule a car seat inspection?
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To schedule a car seat inspection, just call the Alpena County Sheriff's Office at 989-354-9855. If you are unable to reach a car seat technician leave your name and contact information and they will call you back.
- What laws are there for children in vehicles?
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Children younger than age 4 are to ride in a car seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a rear seat. If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.
Children need to be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.
Children under 16 years old must wear seat belts no matter where they are sitting in a vehicle.
- Do car seats expire?
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Yes, car seats expire after about 6 years from the date of manufacture. Some of the newer car seats are actually labeled with an expiration date.
- My car seat is expired what do I do?
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If your car seat is expired, you should cut the straps and remove the covering for the shell, making the car seat unusable.