Departments > Police > Community Programs > Child Passenger Safety
Over 95% of Child Safety Seats inspected by the South Suburban Traffic Safety Coalition are installed in vehicle incorrectly or are being used inappropriately. Is your child’s seat correctly installed?
The Oak Lawn Police Station is a registered Permanent Fitting Station with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Specially trained officers attended a four day nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Course. These officers conduct child safety seat check points throughout the south side of Cook County. Officers are also available, by appointment, to educate you how to properly install and use your child safety seat. Please call the police station to make you appointment before you come into the station.
The Oak Lawn Police Department was one of the founding members of the South Suburban Traffic Safety Coalition along with the Illinois State Police, Orland Park Police and Orland Fire Protection District. This coalition is comprised of over forty police departments, fire departments, and hospitals located in the south side of Cook County. The coalition was also honored as the Red White & Blue Coalition of the year for 2000 by the Illinois Department of Transportation. For a complete list of up-coming checkup events go to the South Suburban Traffic Safety Coalition web page at:
Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act
Effective January 1, 2004
Public Act #83-8, The Child Passenger Protection Act, has been in effect in Illinois since July 1, 1983. The law, amended effective January 1, 2004 requires anyone who transports children in Illinois in non-commercial vehicles to do so in the following manner:
• Children under the age of eight years must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system, more commonly called a child safety seat. Child safety seats include infant seats, convertible seats (rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for toddlers) and booster seats that are used with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt system.
• Children weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt if the back seat is not equipped with a lap and shoulder belt system for booster seat installation.
• Children and young people eight and up to 16 years of age must be secured in a properly adjusted safety belt in any position in the vehicle.
• The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of eight years is responsible for providing a child safety seat to anyone who transports his or her child.
• Every person under the age of 18 years who transports a child eight years of age or older (up to 18 years) is responsible for securing that child in a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt or child safety seat.
Those found in violation of the law the first time will be fined $50, which is waived upon proof of possession of an approved safety seat. Subsequent violations are punishable by a $100 fine.
Children with physical disabilities that prevent the use of standard safety seats are exempt from the provisions of the law if the disability is duly certified by a physician.
Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety – 217-785-3038
Oak Lawn Police Department, School & Community Relations – 708-499-7880
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