CPPD wants kids to buckle up right

By on Friday, August 20th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – The College Place Police Department has launched the first in a series of educational videos aimed at child passenger seat safety.

“One of our clerks is a child safety seat technician who had the idea,” Chief Troy Tomaras said.

Hosted by Brielle Brink, who is also a new mother, the College Place Police Department has plans to produce eight short videos.

“No production costs, CPPD is doing the videos in house,” Tomaras explained.

Washington’s child passenger restraint law changed in 2020. Children up to age 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children aged 2 to 4 must ride in a car seat with a harness, whether rear- or forward-facing. Children 4 and older must ride in a car or booster seat until they are taller than 4-feet 9-inches. Also, children up to age 13 should ride in the back seat when practical. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in Washington’s children, and in 50 percent of those cases, children were not properly restrained according to state statistics.

The videos will be available on the College Place Police Department’s Facebook page and the city of College Place YouTube channel.