Officers from the Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Section visited Manchester Pediatric Medical Day Care on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, to install child car seats in the center’s vans and educate employees about changes to the law governing these important safety devices.

Patrolmen Doug Higgins, Antonio Ellis, Paul Bachovchin and Michael Lynch demonstrated how to properly install a child car seat and discussed changes to the State’s child car seat law with Manchester Pediatric staff. The center, which opened in 2007, offers nursing services to children under 6 years of age who are technology dependent or medically unstable. In light of the law changes, Director of Nursing Jean Vitiello reached out to Ptl. Ellis and asked if officers could inspect the center’s child car seats.

“It is critical that children are properly restrained in an appropriate child car seat at all times when traveling,” said Ptl. Ellis. “We encourage parents to familiarize themselves with the changes to State law and to read the owner’s manuals for both their vehicle and child car seat, because installation can vary.”

According to the New Jersey State Police, the updated child car seat law states:

  • Children under the age of 2 and weighing less than 30 lbs. must be in a rear-facing car seat with a 5 point harness. The car seat must be in a rear seat of the vehicle.
  • From age 2 through age 4 and weighing up to 40 lbs., children must be secured in a seat with a 5 point harness, either rear-facing (up to height and weight limits of the particular seat), or forward-facing in the rear seat of the vehicle.
  • For ages 4 until 8 and less than 57” (4’9”), the child must be seated in either a car seat with a 5 point harness or a booster seat, also in the rear seat of the vehicle.
  • Ages 8 and older must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt.
  • If there are no rear seats (e.g., a standard cab pickup truck), the child must be secured in the appropriate car seat or booster for their age, weight and height in the front passenger seat. If the child is in a rear-facing car seat, the passenger side airbag must be disabled or turned off.

The Manchester Township Police offer regular child car seat safety inspections on the first Wednesday of each month from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ridgeway Firehouse located on County Route 571. No appointment is necessary to stop by this monthly car seat check. If an emergency situation arises and car seat installation assistance is needed between the monthly safety inspections, please call the Traffic Safety Section at 732-657-2009, ext. 4400/4401.