Child Safety Seat Inspections

Child Car Safety Seat

Over 90% of all child safety seats are used incorrectly. Because of this, the Villa Park Police Department offers free Child Safety Seat Inspections. Contact the Police Department's Front Desk at (630) 592-6100 or via email for more information.

The Ultimate Car Seat Guide is also a resource for information about child safety seats.

Child Passenger Protection Act

Small Children

The Child Passenger Protection Act requires that all children under age 8 be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint system. This includes the use of booster seats, which must only be used with a lap/shoulder safety belt. If the back seat of the vehicle is not equipped with lap/shoulder type safety belts, a child weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat without a booster seat, secured with a lap belt only.

As of January, 1, 2019 the Child Passenger Protection Act is amended to include the requirement for children under age 2 years to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or are 40 or more inches tall.

Always read and follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturer's instructions for installation and height/weight guidelines.

Newborn to 2 years
Effective January 1, 2019, Illinois law will require children under age 2 to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are more than 40 inches tall. Children must remain rear-facing until age 2.

Children riding rear-facing may use a rear-facing only car seat or a convertible car seat installed rear-facing. Always follow the car seat manufacturers harnessing instructions and height and weight limitations for a rear-facing installation.

• Never install a rear-facing safety seat in front of an active airbag.
• Follow the recline indicator for rear-facing installation.
• The child's head may need at least 1 inch or more below the top of the safety seat when rear-facing.
• Use the harness straps/slots at or below shoulder level when rear-facing.
• Harness straps must be snug on the child; the harness clip should be at armpit level.

Ages 2 to 4
Children should remain in a rear-facing safety seat for as long as possible, or until they are at the upper height or weight limit of the seat. When a child out- grows a rear-facing safety seat, he or she may transition to a forward-facing seat with a harness system

• Use the internal harness system until the upper height or weight limit is reached.
• Use harness straps/slots at or above shoulder level when forward-facing.
• Harness straps must be snug on the child; the harness clip should be at armpit level.
• The top of the child's ears should not be above the top of the car seat when forward-facing.

Ages 4 to 8
Children should be secured in a forward-facing safety seat with an internal harness system until they reach the upper height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. When a child outgrows the forward-facing seat, he or she may transition to a belt-positioning booster seat.

• Booster seats must be used with the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt, never just a lap belt.
• The lap belt should lie low across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should rest snugly across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face.
• The top of the child's ears should not be above the top of the back of a booster seat with a back.
• If using a backless booster seat, the vehicle's head restraint must be positioned properly.
• Secure the booster seat with the vehicle's seat belt when not in use.

Ages 8 to 12
Children should stay in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are tall enough to properly fit in an adult lap/shoulder belt.

• The vehicle lap belt must lie low across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should rest snugly across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face.
• The child's back and hips should be against the back of the vehicle seat, without slouching.
• Knees should bend easily over the front edge of the vehicle seat with the feet flat on the floor.

Pre-Teenagers

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.

Violation of the Law

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.

Please feel free to contact the Villa Park Police Department if you have any questions regarding the new seat belt laws or for help with child safety seat installation.