Ottawa Police Department, IL

According to the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act:

• All children under the age of eight years must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system.
• If the vehicle used to transport children under eight years is equipped with lap belts only in the back seat and child weighs more than 40 pounds, the child may be transported in the back seat wearing a lap belt only. If a combination lap and shoulder belt is available, the child must be secured in a booster seat.
• Children and young people, eight and up to sixteen years of age, must be secured in a properly adjusted safety belt in any position in the vehicle.
• The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of eight years is responsible for providing a child safety seat to anyone who transports his or her child.
• The Illinois Graduated Licensing System requires all passengers under 18 years to buckle-up when riding in a vehicle being driven by a person under the age of 18.
• Any person under the age of 18 who receives a graduated driver?s license, for the first six months of the license or until the person reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs sooner; the person may not drive with more than one person in the vehicle who is under the age of 20 unless they are siblings, children, step-siblings, and step children of the driver.

The Ottawa Police Department has two officers certified in installation and inspection of child safety seats. If you would like to make an appointment to have your child's safety seat inspected, or need assistance with installation of the safety seat, please contact Ofc. Brenden Donahue or Ofc. Louis Riva at 815-433-2131.