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Lynnwood Police Expands FREE Car Seat Installation Program

Starting July 6, 2016, the Lynnwood Police Department will expand its FREE car seat installation program to every Wednesday from 12-6:00 pm (by appointment).

In the past they have conducted car seat inspections two days per month. However, more volunteers have stepped up to contribute their time and talents to this valuable program.

The Lynnwood Police have offered car seat inspection/installation education to the public either by officers or volunteers since 2002. They now conduct over 250 installations each year. The program is overseen by Crime Prevention Specialists in the Community Health and Safety Section of the LPD and is staffed and run by dedicated and caring volunteers. All five volunteer technicians are nationally certified to help parents and caregivers learn how to safely install the car seats in their own vehicles.

Car Seat

Lynnwood Police Department Volunteer Car Seat Installation Technicians 

How to get started:

  • You may schedule an appointment by calling 425-670-5710. Leave a message and a volunteer will call you back.
  • It is best to have the child present, and to bring your vehicle owner’s manual and child seat instructions (if you have them).
  • Location: Lynnwood Police station located at 19321 44th Avenue W, Lynnwood. It’s right across the street from the Lynnwood library
  • Allow 30-45 minutes for your appointment. Parent education and involvement is a primary goal.
  • This program is FREE to the public. However, the volunteer run program will accept donations to help support training, recruitment and special events.

Motor vehicle crashes are the single largest cause of child fatalities in the country. Proper child seat safety can reduce the risk of injury or death by 70%. Typically, parents make sure their children are in child car seats. However, 8 of 10 seats are installed incorrectly.

At a minimum, children MUST be age 1 and 20 pounds before facing forward. Toddlers between 20 and 40 pounds, one to four years old, must be in a forward-facing child seat restraint system.

The latest state law went into effect on July 1, 2002 requiring children between four and six years old or 40 to 60 pounds to ride in seat-belt adjusting booster seats. Many tragic experiences have proven that children between 40 and 60 lbs. sitting in regular seats with adult shoulder and lap belts can be seriously injured or killed because the adult restraints do not work adequately for children.

Remember: citations are issued when children are not restrained in age and size appropriate car seats. The fine is $124.

To make an appointment contact call the volunteer car seat installation experts in the Crime Prevention Unit at 425-670-5710.