Community Family Affairs Division

Child Passenger Safety Installations

Securing our Most Precious Cargo

Chief Scott Rohmer and the Ashland Police Department are very serious about proactively preventing needless injuries or fatalities to children due to non and or misuses of Child Passenger Safety Seats, Booster seats and or seat belts. Chief Rohmer has made a substantial investment of manpower, time and recourses to provide the citizens of Ashland and the area, as of May 2008, with two Child Passenger Safety Seat Technicians certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Ashland Police Department also has two recently certified and specialized Traffic Occupant Protection Strategies Instructors. By building partnerships with parents and caretakers we can and are making a difference.

Appointments to have your Child Passenger Safety Seats inspected and or installed can be made by calling the business line of the Ashland Police Department 508 881-1212 and asking to make an appointment with one of our two certified technicians.

Effective 07/01/10: Officer Ed Pomponio has been assigned to the day shift and is now available Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 2:00pm for Car Seat Installations. Officer Pomponio has requested that any residents wishing to make a car seat installation appointment contact him via EMAIL at epomponio@ashlandpd.org or by calling the Ashland Police Station during the above listed hours at 508-881-1212 x0.

The Facts

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 2 to 14, due in large part to the nonuse or improper use of child seats and seat belts. Thousands of children are needlessly injured or killed each year. Working with parents and caretakers our goal here at the Ashland Police Department is to ensure every child is properly secured and safe every trip, every time.

By having your Child Passenger Safety Seat properly installed according to the manufactures suggested recommendation you can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury by (according to the National Highway Safety Administration) “71 % for infants and 54% for toddlers.”

Are you and your child passengers properly restrained while driving?

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). An average of 5 children age 14 and younger were killed and 568 injured in motor vehicle crashes each day across the United States in 2005. Even a sudden stop can seriously injure a child who is not riding securely in the right type of child safety seat.

State and local police and others involved in child passenger safety (CPS) work continuously to educate parents and caregivers on how to safely transport children in motor vehicles. They are also ready to enforce the Massachusetts CPS Law if necessary to protect children. In 2006 Massachusetts drivers were issued 1,060 CPS Law violations for unrestrained children.

Tips for "best practices" when driving with children as passengers:

Children should be in rear-facing infant seats from birth to 1 year AND until they are more than 20 pounds.
Children 1 to 4 years and 20 to 40 pounds should ride in a forward-facing child seat.
Children who have outgrown a child safety seat, typically when they are over 40 pounds or 5 years of age, should transition to a booster seat which assists in the proper fit of a safety belt.
Children All children must be in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is properly fastened and secured until they are 8 years old OR over 57" tall.
Children 12 and younger should never sit in the front seat. The safest seating position is in the back seat, away from air bags if possible.
Children 13 years of age or older should ride in the front seat, but should position their seat as far back as possible from the air bag.
Always wear your lap and shoulder belt when driving -- it protects you in case of a crash and it sets a good example for children.

Learn more by visiting the child passenger safety pages on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site at www.nhtsa.gov.

Please be aware that the Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Law was strengthed with new booster seat requirements on July 10, 2008.

Code of Conduct & Commitment

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians

For the Families You Serve:

Provide the highest level of service.
Be polite and professional.
Give good service regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender, sex orientation, religion, age, disability, social or economic level.
Listen to people. Acknowledge their strengths. Build on their abilities. Learn from them.
Respect parents and their right to make decisions for their children.
Be an example for others, as a safe and courteous driver.
Always wear your seat belt and be a positive role model for children.

For the Community You Serve:

Participate in community events, as your agency or organization is part of the community.
Support occupant protection programs, like Click It Or Ticket, teen buckle-up challenges and important legislation.
Make services available to everyone, especially those at risk, such as rural, non-English speaking, and low income communities.
Work toward safe transportation through education, research and advocacy.
Support policies for safe transportation for children and families.

As a Colleague:

Work with colleagues. Trust and respect them. Share resources.
Support colleagues in meeting their professional needs and development.
Respect everyone's personal dignity, especially in resolving disagreements and what you may think are behavior problems.
Be careful and respectful when talking personally and professionally about colleagues.

As a Leader:

Develop and maintain your competence, such as your current certification status.
Document your work according to agency, state and national standards.
Follow all CPS certification program content in your own education and training programs.
Correctly enter information into the CPS online system.
Maintain the integrity and security of tests and assessments.
Protect confidential information about families you assist.

From the National Child Passenger Safety Board — 2007

Webmaster: mvinciulla@ashlandpd.org