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The third week of September marks Child Passenger Safety Week, and September 21 marks National Seat Check Saturday. The Woodbury Police Department wants to relieve stress for parents by ensuring that car seats are installed correctly and safely.
Ashley Kowarsch, a Woodbury police officer who has been a certified child passenger safety technician for 11 years, says, “Checking car seat installs is important because every child seat and vehicle seat are different, and the technology and features are constantly evolving.” Double-checking with a professional can help minimize the risk of car crash injury.
Four out of five car seats are misused, Kowarsch says, noting that, in 2023, most car seats arrived uninstalled and, in 2022, only around 13 percent of car seats that were brought to be checked were installed correctly.
“It can be so intimidating for especially brand new parents who have never done a seat,” Kowarsch says. “It’s really helpful to do this step by step. The parents usually feel really good when they leave.”
Woodbury residents can request a car seat check by going to the city’s website, woodburymn.gov, and filling out a request form.
A new Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Law went into effect on August 1. For the up-to-date law and exceptions, visit dps.mn.gov.
