New Program Lends Child Car Seats to Needy Families
The Garden Grove Police Department will lend car safety seats to families that cannot afford to buy them immediately. Donated by a local service club and area businesses, the car seats will go to the infants and toddlers of city residents on a two-month basis.
The idea is to prevent injuries to children while their parents save the roughly $75 necessary to buy a new seat, Officer Scott Cameron said.
“Our officers are finding infants and toddlers unsecured in car stops,” Cameron said. “A lot of disadvantaged people don’t have the money to buy” the seats.
State law requires drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts. Children 4 and younger and children who weigh less than 40 pounds must ride in a child safety seat. Violating the law can bring a $271 fine.
Under Garden Grove’s program, parents need only present a California driver’s license and promise to return the car seat in good condition. “It’s the honor system,” Cameron said.
The department has 12 seats to lend. Two were donated to Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center to ferry newborns home. Officers will find more if the demand is great, Cameron said. Information: (714) 741-5847.
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