Union County, NC - Sheriff

For additional information on car seat safety, please visit www.buckleupnc.org or call the NC Child Passenger Safety Resource Center at 800-672-4527.

Want to make sure your car seat is installed properly? Wanna double check if your child is ready for a booster seat? Union County offers FREE car seat safety checks. Please check the schedule here.

First check to be sure....

• The Child is within the age, height and weight limits specified by the car seat's manufacturer.
• The harness straps are in the right set of slots according to the manufacturer's instructions and are snug enough that you can't pinch a loop in the strap at the collar bone after it has been buckled.
• The chest clip is at armpit level.
• The car seat is secured tightly in the car and doesn't move more than 1 inch when you pull on it where the seat belt goes through it. 
• The car seat is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions using either the vehicle's seat belt or LATCH system. Do not use both unless allowed by the car seat AND vehicle manufacturer's instructions. 

Use rear-facing car seats as long as possible, but at least until a child is 2 years old until he or she reaches the upper weight or height limit allowed by the child seat's manufacturer. Check to be sure...

• The child sits facing the back of the car in the car seat.
• The car seat is reclined according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Rear-facing only car seats

• Should never face toward the front of the car.
• Usually have removable bases and carrying handles for convenience.

Covertible car seats

• Use rear-facing until the child reaches the maximum height or weight allowed by the manufacturer. Then use forward-facing.
• Can often be used rear-facing for children up to 40 or 45 pounds, depending on the model.

When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (by weight or height, whichever comes first), they should ride in forward-facing car seats with harnesses until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the seat or harness. The upper limits can range from 40 to 90 pounds, depending on the model. Check to be sure...

• The top of the child's ears are below the top of the car seat.
• The top tether strap is hooked to a designated tether anchor and pulled snug to remove slack. 

Once children outgrow the harness of their forward facing seats (by weight or height, whichever comes first), they should ride in booster seats until the seat belt fits properly on its own. Check to be sure...

• The child always rides in a booster seat using a seat belt with both lap and shoulder belts.
• The lap belt sits low on the child's hips, not on the stomach.
• The shoulder belt crosses over the shoulder and collar bone, not on the neck, under the arm or behind the back.
• The seat belt is snug, lays flat and is comfortable on the child. 

Seat belts are designed for adults. Many older kids (age 8-12) are not yet tall enough for the seat belt to fit correctly. Booster seats give kids a "boost" so that the seat belt fits correctly. The seat belt does all the work, the booster seat just helps to put it in the right place. It is important to continue to use a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly. 

Once you have determined that your child is large enough for the lap and shoulder seat belts to fit properly it will be time for your child to wear a standard seat belt. Please always check to be sure...

• The child always uses a seat belt with both lap and shoulder belts.
• The lap belt sits low on the child's hips, not the stomach.
• the shoulder belt crosses over the shoulder and collar bones, not the neck, under the arm or behind the back. 
• The child's back fits firmly against the seat back when the knees are bent at the front edge of the seat, and that the child can sit this way for the whole ride. 
• The seat belt is snug, lays flat and is comfortable on the child.