Geneseo Police Department
Child Safety Seat Program
NEW YORK STATE'S "NEW" CHILD RESTRAINT LAW
Child Passenger Restraints Are Not An Option, They Are The Law!
- All children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle until they reach their 8th birthday.
- An appropriate child restraint system is one that meets the child's size and weight recommended by the manufacturer.
- The safety belt in your vehicle is not designed for children. A booster seat raises your child up so that the safety belt fits your child correctly and provides better protection.
Effective November 1, 2019, the law states that all children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are 2 types of rear-facing car seats: Infant Seats and Convertible/All-in-One Seats.
For more information see brochure: New York State's Occupant Restraint Law or visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats
All children must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle until their 8th Birthday.
- An appropriate child restraint system is one that meets the child's size and weight and the specifications of the manufacturer.
- A child restraint system may be a child safety seat, harness, vest or a booster seat.
- The vehicle's safety belt alone is NOT a child restraint system.
- Booster seats MUST be used with a lap and a shoulder belt.
- Children 12 years and younger should ride in the back seat. The simple task of properly buckling up children in the back seat reduces the risk of being killed in a crash by 33%.
Before moving your child from a booster seat to the vehicle seat belts please make sure that your child meets all of the following requirements for a proper seat belt fit:
- 1. Your child must be 8 years old.
- 2. Your child should be able to sit with his or her back straight against the vehicle seat back.
- 3. The knees bent comfortably at the seat's edge without slouching.
- 4. The lap belt should be low across the upper thighs or hips, not across the abdomen.
- 5. The shoulder belt should lie across the chest and shoulder, not touching the neck or face.
- 6. Your child should be able to ride this way for the entire trip.
- 7. It is recommended that booster seats be used until your child is 4'9" tall or weighs 100 lbs.
The Geneseo Police Department participates in periodic Child Safety Seat checks in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension. For a list of the events, please visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension Events Calendar at http://ccelivingstoncounty.org/events.
If you are a Village of Geneseo resident and would like to schedule a time to have your child restraint checked or assistance installing a child restraint, please call the Geneseo Police Department at (585) 243-2420.