The Burlington County Sheriff’s Department is making it easier for parents to ensure child safety seats are properly installed in their vehicles.
Beginning March 16, the department will perform safety seat inspections every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. No appointment required.
The service is offered free-of-charge to improve child safety. A typical inspection takes about 20 minutes.
“Statistics show motor-vehicle accidents are the No. 1 cause of deaths of children 6 months or older, but a properly installed safety seat can make a huge difference,” said Burlington County Sheriff Anthony Basantis. “We want to do everything possible to keep children safe, so we’re expanding our child seat inspections service. It’s a simple check that could save a child from significant injury or even death.”
Inspections are performed at the Burlington County Administration Building, 49 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly. Residents can call 609-265-3788 when they arrive and ask for the on-duty child safety seat technician.
The Sheriff’s Department began checking safety seats 24 years ago as a community service to improve community safety.
More than 150 inspections were performed by Sheriff officers in 2020 and 2021. More than 90 percent of the inspections revealed at least one mistake with the seat’s installation.
“Throughout the pandemic, our certified officers continued to perform safety checks for parents by appointment,” Basantis said. “Offering this service appointment-free will make it more convenient for residents. Ultimately, the more seats we check, the safer kids will be.”
Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell applauded the Sheriff’s Department for offering this critical service to local residents.
“Twenty minutes of your time can help ensure the safety of your most precious passengers,” O’Connell said. “The checks help safeguard our children and provide their parents with some assurance that their safety seat is properly installed and appropriate for a child’s height and weight. It’s a tremendous service and we want to encourage more families to take advantage of it.”
