Child Safety Seat Installation Event Sept. 14

Published on September 08, 2025

During Child Passenger Safety Week, the Menlo Park Police Department encourages all parents and caregivers to make sure their children are riding safely by using the correct car seats, booster seats and properly fitted seat belts. This annual campaign takes place from Sept. 21-27 and aims to raise awareness about the importance of car seat safety and proper installation.

On Sunday, Sept. 14, from 8 a.m.–1 p.m., the Menlo Park Police Department will have certified child passenger safety technicians available to check car seat installations in the parking lot in front of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center (700 Alma St.). The technicians will teach parents and caregivers how to install the car seat correctly, as well as educate them on the appropriate seat based on the child’s age and size. Please bring the safety seat and all of its parts, the owner’s manual for the vehicle and the child safety seat instructions. No appointments are required.

“Every child deserves to travel safely,” Sergeant Ferguson said. “During Child Passenger Safety Week, we urge all parents and caregivers to know for sure that their children are in the right seats and that those seats are installed correctly. Keeping a child in the right seat for their age and size can make all the difference in a crash.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of car seats (46%) are misused. Properly installed car seats have been shown to reduce fatal injury crashes by 71% for infants under one year old and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 through 4.

California law requires all children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. Once a child reaches these milestones, all children under the age of 8 years old are still required to be secured in a car seat or booster seat, in the back seat. Children 8 and older, or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

Email Sergeant Ferguson at mnferguson@menlopark.gov to learn more about the car safety seat installation event or to make an appointment.

Visit gosafelyca.org for more traffic safety information.