| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK
June 10, 2008
Greenport, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. announces that the Sheriff’s Office, in partnership
with the Columbia County Health Department and the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee with be hosting a large
scale Child Safety Car Seat Check Saturday, June 7th from 10:00am – 1:00pm at Wal-Mart, located at 351 Fairview
Avenue in Greenport.
People with child seats in their car can pull into the Wal-Mart parking lot to have them checked by trained technicians
from the Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Health Department, Chatham Police Department and the Alamo Ambulance
Service from Dutchess County. They will check to ensure that your child’s car seat is properly installed and in good
condition. The technicians will also offer vital information on making the transition between car seats, booster seats and
regular seat belts. Child seats will be provided, (while supplies last), to low-income families who have a need for a child
safety seat(s) and meet guidelines set by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The car seat check
is free of charge.
Guidelines to meet before a child safety seat is provided:
• Applicant must have his or her vehicle present;
• Applicant must meet income eligibility requirements;
• Applicant must receive education on child passenger safety;
• Applicant must complete the manufacturer’s warranty card;
• Applicant must sign an agreement form and a waiver of liability form.
The Sheriff’s Office received a $10,885.00 grant from the Child safety Passenger Program from the NYS Governor’s
Traffic Safety Committee that allowed for the purchase of a trailer and fifty child safety seats. Additionally, Wal-Mart
Manager Roger Livingston, through their Community Grant Program, and the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff’s
Benevolent Association both donated $1,000.00. The Columbia County Deputy Sheriff’s Association purchased
$1,000.00 worth of coloring books and crayons to be distributed to the children attending the car seat check clinic. The
$1,000.00 from Wal-Mart will be used to purchase operational supplies for the car seat checks.
The Sheriff’s Office has seven child seat safety technicians. Sheriff Harrison said, “car seats have proven to save the
lives of young children in crashes. It is very important that the seats are installed correctly and are in good working
condition. We will continue to have large-scale child safety seat checks in Columbia County”.
Anyone who can not make the June 7th child seat safety check can call the Sheriff’s Office to make an appointment to
check them on any Thursday.
For more information on this free Child Safety Car Seat Check, please call 1st Sergeant John Rustici at (518)-697-0139.
June 10, 2008
Greenport, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. announces that the Sheriff’s Office, in partnership
with the Columbia County Health Department and the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee with be hosting a large
scale Child Safety Car Seat Check Saturday, June 7th from 10:00am – 1:00pm at Wal-Mart, located at 351 Fairview
Avenue in Greenport.
People with child seats in their car can pull into the Wal-Mart parking lot to have them checked by trained technicians
from the Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Health Department, Chatham Police Department and the Alamo Ambulance
Service from Dutchess County. They will check to ensure that your child’s car seat is properly installed and in good
condition. The technicians will also offer vital information on making the transition between car seats, booster seats and
regular seat belts. Child seats will be provided, (while supplies last), to low-income families who have a need for a child
safety seat(s) and meet guidelines set by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The car seat check
is free of charge.
Guidelines to meet before a child safety seat is provided:
• Applicant must have his or her vehicle present;
• Applicant must meet income eligibility requirements;
• Applicant must receive education on child passenger safety;
• Applicant must complete the manufacturer’s warranty card;
• Applicant must sign an agreement form and a waiver of liability form.
The Sheriff’s Office received a $10,885.00 grant from the Child safety Passenger Program from the NYS Governor’s
Traffic Safety Committee that allowed for the purchase of a trailer and fifty child safety seats. Additionally, Wal-Mart
Manager Roger Livingston, through their Community Grant Program, and the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff’s
Benevolent Association both donated $1,000.00. The Columbia County Deputy Sheriff’s Association purchased
$1,000.00 worth of coloring books and crayons to be distributed to the children attending the car seat check clinic. The
$1,000.00 from Wal-Mart will be used to purchase operational supplies for the car seat checks.
The Sheriff’s Office has seven child seat safety technicians. Sheriff Harrison said, “car seats have proven to save the
lives of young children in crashes. It is very important that the seats are installed correctly and are in good working
condition. We will continue to have large-scale child safety seat checks in Columbia County”.
Anyone who can not make the June 7th child seat safety check can call the Sheriff’s Office to make an appointment to
check them on any Thursday.
For more information on this free Child Safety Car Seat Check, please call 1st Sergeant John Rustici at (518)-697-0139.
18 SEATS UNSAFE IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK
June 11, 2008
Greenport, NY - Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that as a result of the Child Seat Safety Check at Walmart on June
7th, 46 child car seats were checked during the 3-hour period between 10:00AM and 1:00PM. Of the 46 seats
checked, only 5 seats were found to be totally compliant for safe use. 18 seats were deemed to be unfit for use and
were collected by Technicians and destroyed. In addition, 20 child seats were given free of charge to individuals who
qualified.
The number of seats that had to be collected and destroyed indicates the need for parents to pay close attention to
the age, condition, height & weight requirements and history of their child’s safety seat. Some of the seats had been
purchased from yard sales without installation directions. Also, any seat that had been in a vehicle that has been
involved in an accident, should not be used any longer. The seats should have markings by the NHTSA (National
Highway Safety Administration) indicating that certain standards are met, with date of manufacture.
Any public safety agency in Columbia County is invited to participate in the safety seat program. The Greenport
Rescue Squad is one agency that has already contacted the Sheriff’s Office for information on training for
participation. Any agency wishing to be involved and send representatives to the week long Child Safety Seat
Technician course should contact 1st Sgt Rustici at the Sheriff’s Office. If there is enough interest, the Sheriff’s Office
will request and host a Technician Course in Columbia County.
Sheriff Harrison would like to thank the 11 Child Seat Safety Technicians lead by Sheriff’s Office 1st Sergeant John
Rustici, as well as Walmart and 5 support workers from the Columbia County Department of Social Services, Health
Department and the Sheriff’s Explorer Post #220 who worked in the sweltering heat.
Also thanked by the Sheriff are; Cantele Tent Rentals who donated a large tent to help keep the hot sun off of detail
participants, as well as Heavy Hauler, Signs by Design and the Greenport Fire Department who either donated time or
materials for this effort.
The Sheriff’s Office is planning another large scale child safety seat check for the month of October in another part of
the county. More child seat safety check information can be obtained at the Sheriff’s Office website www.
columbiacountysheriff.us Contributed Photos 1 – Deputy Sheriff William Dunspaugh inspects the child seat of an
infant child. 2 – Inside the safety check tent. 3 – Walmart parking lot and shot of tent with cones marking lanes for
vehicles pulling out after inspection.
June 11, 2008
Greenport, NY - Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that as a result of the Child Seat Safety Check at Walmart on June
7th, 46 child car seats were checked during the 3-hour period between 10:00AM and 1:00PM. Of the 46 seats
checked, only 5 seats were found to be totally compliant for safe use. 18 seats were deemed to be unfit for use and
were collected by Technicians and destroyed. In addition, 20 child seats were given free of charge to individuals who
qualified.
The number of seats that had to be collected and destroyed indicates the need for parents to pay close attention to
the age, condition, height & weight requirements and history of their child’s safety seat. Some of the seats had been
purchased from yard sales without installation directions. Also, any seat that had been in a vehicle that has been
involved in an accident, should not be used any longer. The seats should have markings by the NHTSA (National
Highway Safety Administration) indicating that certain standards are met, with date of manufacture.
Any public safety agency in Columbia County is invited to participate in the safety seat program. The Greenport
Rescue Squad is one agency that has already contacted the Sheriff’s Office for information on training for
participation. Any agency wishing to be involved and send representatives to the week long Child Safety Seat
Technician course should contact 1st Sgt Rustici at the Sheriff’s Office. If there is enough interest, the Sheriff’s Office
will request and host a Technician Course in Columbia County.
Sheriff Harrison would like to thank the 11 Child Seat Safety Technicians lead by Sheriff’s Office 1st Sergeant John
Rustici, as well as Walmart and 5 support workers from the Columbia County Department of Social Services, Health
Department and the Sheriff’s Explorer Post #220 who worked in the sweltering heat.
Also thanked by the Sheriff are; Cantele Tent Rentals who donated a large tent to help keep the hot sun off of detail
participants, as well as Heavy Hauler, Signs by Design and the Greenport Fire Department who either donated time or
materials for this effort.
The Sheriff’s Office is planning another large scale child safety seat check for the month of October in another part of
the county. More child seat safety check information can be obtained at the Sheriff’s Office website www.
columbiacountysheriff.us Contributed Photos 1 – Deputy Sheriff William Dunspaugh inspects the child seat of an
infant child. 2 – Inside the safety check tent. 3 – Walmart parking lot and shot of tent with cones marking lanes for
vehicles pulling out after inspection.