Car Seats

UTAH SEAT BELT LAWS 

ALL passengers must wear seat belts in all seating positions, and children up to age 8 must be properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat.

Remember, seat belts save lives. If you or anyone in your vehicle isn’t properly restrained, you can be issued a $45 citation.

NOTE: The time to transition your child out of a booster seat and into a seat belt usually comes when the child is between 8 and 12 years old. Keep your children in booster seats until they outgrow the size limits of the booster seats or are big enough to fit properly in seat belts.

And remember, children under 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety!

Did you know that Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S.? 33% of the children who died in car crashes in 2011 were not buckled up.

The Saratoga Springs Police Department values each of our citizens’ lives, especially the children. We have two certified car seat technicians who can check to ensure your car seat is installed correctly, that the seat you have is the correct one for your child, and that your child is properly harnessed in the seat you have chosen. Contact Melissa Hamer at 801 420-6326 to schedule a free car seat check today. Checks usually last about half an hour or less for each car seat you have.

PARENT RESOURCES 

The following websites give parents helpful advice on selecting and using their car seats.

Safe Kids Ultimate Car Seat Guide

Click it Utah-Utah Department of Public Safety Seat Belt and Car Seat

National Highway Safety Traffic Administration Car Seats and Booster Seats

RECALLS

Car Seat Manufactures recall car seats for different problems that affect the safety of the children using the seat. The quickest way to be notified of any recalls that affect the car seat you bought is to register it with your manufacturer using the card they provide you. If you have lost this card or need to register, please go to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration Registration to register your seat. If you would like to look up your seat to see if it has any active recalls, go to National Highway Safety Traffic Administration Search Safety Issues. Our Car seat technician checks to ensure your car seats haven’t been recalled when you come in for a car seat check.

EXPIRED SEATS

Most car seats expire after 6 years of use. Generally, the expiration date is listed on the car seat. Citizens can call the manufacturer or schedule a car seat check if they are unsure if the seat has expired. Once a seat has expired you can hang on to the seat to use at a car seat trade-back event or throw it away. Unfortunately, currently, there are no recycling programs for car seats. If you are throwing it away, we recommend cutting through the straps and putting it in a dark trash bag, so it is unusable.

REPLACING CAR SEATS AFTER AN ACCIDENT

If you have been in a car accident it is important to understand if you need to replace your child's seat, how to get your car seat replaced if needed, and what to do with the car seat you are replacing. National Highway Safety Traffic Administration recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate to severe crash. For more information see National Highway Safety Traffic Administration car seat use after a crash. Each car seat manufacturer also has specific recommendations for their car seats. Please call your car seat manufacturer to get specific advice on your situation.