Child Safety Seat Inspection

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Child Safety Seats

In Illinois, all children under the age of eight must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat. Child safety seats include infant seats, convertible seats (can be used rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for toddlers) and booster seats that are used with the vehicles lap and shoulder belt system.

Things to consider

  • Infants, from birth to at least age one, and at least 20 pounds, should ride in the back seat in a rear-facing safety seat
  • Children older than age one and at least 20 pounds may ride in a forward-facing safety seat in the back seat. Children should ride in a safety seat secured in the full harness until they weigh about 40 pounds.
  • All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they reach age 8, unless they are 4’9” tall.
  • If you are unable to secure your child seat, or would like assistance in checking your seat for recalls or proper installation, contact your local police department and ask for a “Child Seat Technician.” If they don’t have someone properly trained, please go to www.nhtsa.gov and search for a child seat technician in your area.

Child Passenger Safety Technicians
The Elwood Police Department has two officers who are specially trained and certified to correctly install child safety seats in your vehicle. To schedule an appointment with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in Elwood, please call the Police Department at 815-424-1090. To ensure officer availability installations and inspections are done by appointment only.

Child Seat Use Restrictions
It is recommended that a child safety seat be no more than five years old from the date of manufacture. Every child safety seat has an information sticker than includes the model number, model name, serial number and date of manufacture. Child safety seats are typically made of plastic, which can, over time, break down from exposure to heat and cold weather. If the seat is more than five years old, we cannot install the seat. 

Please visit the Cyberdrive Illinois and Buckle Up Illinois websites for more information.