Child Passenger Safety
Parents and caregivers are urged to have their children’s car seats checked by a certified child passenger safety technician when and where available. The East Hartford Police Department provides a free service by appointment only for residents of East Hartford for installation and inspection of child safety seats for proper installation. Certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technicians from the department will assist with installing safety seats and answering questions.
To schedule an appointment, residents may contact the Traffic Division. When arriving for your appointment please bring the instruction manual for the car seat. As a reminder, an array of helpful information can be found in the owner’s manual for the vehicle in which the child seats are going to be installed.
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A CHILD CAR SEAT INSTALLATION
Connecticut Child Restraint Laws:
LAW: Infants must remain rear-facing until they are a minimum of both 2 year and 30 pounds.
LAW: Toddlers must be in a forward facing car seat with 5 point harness until 5 years and 40 pounds.
LAW: Children should ride in a booster until they reach 8 years old AND 60 pounds (they must meet both requirements). Children who ride in a booster seat must use a lap and shoulder belt.
LAW: Children, tweens and teens must be in a seat belt whenever they ride in a vehicle.
Further Recommended: Children should ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old. All people and objects should be properly restrained whenever they are in a vehicle.
Violators of the Connecticut car seat law must pay a fine and attend a 2-hour educational car seat class at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Additional Resources:
- Safe Kids CT, Child Passenger Safety
- 211 of Connecticut, Child Passenger Safety Seat Inspection Sites (See link to inspection sites at bottom of 211's page)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Car Seats and Booster Seats
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Car Seat Term Glossary