2016 Child Passenger Enforcement Mobilization

CPS Enforcement Grantee Guidelines and Strategies:

Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) participating in the CPS Enforcement Mobilization must prepare an enforcement and public awareness plan. The following outline is a basic set of procedures and guidelines to assist with the campaign. All the participating agencies must include the following elements in their enforcement plan:

All LEAs must have an approved Grantee Agreement with North Central Highway Safety Network.

The LEA must have a Certified CPS Technician on staff or partner with a CPS Technician in their community.

Only officers that have completed the “CPS Training for Enforcement Officers” can participate in the enforcement details. The training will cover; Overview of CPS, PA’s child restraint laws, how to observe incorrect booster seat and child restraint system usage, best practices for CPS enforcement and working with the media.

The LEA must complete an Enforcement Plan to include best practice enforcement strategies. Other Strategies will be acceptable, but prior approval is required.

Implementation of public awareness activities including; recording PSAs, Pre/Post Media Announcements, and Media Advisory. Other optional activities could include; Child Restraint Educational Presentations, Assist at Car Seat Inspections or Community Awareness Activities.

Use a “Police Car Seat Misuse Checklist”.


All agencies must document all project enforcement and public awareness activities.

Strategies for CPS Enforcement: The success of the CPS Enforcement Mobilization depends on the enforcement strategy selected and the scope of the public awareness activities. Dedicated enforcement details and getting the message out to the community that your agency is participating in a CPS Enforcement campaign are key factors to the success of these programs.

The greatest obstacle in a CPS Enforcement detail is seeing into the vehicles to detect booster seat law violators. Tinted windows, vehicles with high seats, and glare from the sun are the office’s challenges to spot booster seat law and other CPS law violations. Using stationary positions with good vantage points to see clearly into vehicles can increase the success of identifying violations.

Obstructed view, unable to clearly see in vehicle: Tinted windows, glare, high back seats in SUVs and minivans, and motorists moving too fast (for officers to see in the windows) were reasons officers provided to explain their difficulties in enforcing the booster seat law. Vehicles with tinted windows often pose difficulties in the officer’s ability to see inside the vehicle. Certain vehicles like SUVs and minivans are built with seats higher up on the vehicle floor, which blocks the officers’ view of the back seats, and the officer’s ability to see small children in the second and third rows.

Stationary Positions: Stationary spots can be effective, providing they are situated at locations that offer a clear view into vehicles, and offer safe pull off locations to make the contact and write the citation. A detail scheduled using a stationary position can be a single officer, Spotter/Chaser or multiple chase vehicles (similar to a Traffic Enforcement Zone) based on available agency resources. A Stationary Position should be set near elementary schools, shopping centers, daycare centers, youth athletic or community events. This gave them the advantage of a set position in an area frequented by drivers transporting young children. Locations where vehicle slow or stop such as an intersection with a traffic control device (e.g., stop sign, traffic signal). A downtown center district, streets with two or fewer lanes, lower speed limits, median and island barriers and adequate space (e.g., a shoulder or a designated parking lot area) for drivers to safely pull off the road. Other roadway features, like embankments and raised islands, can also provide productive and a safe environment to officers to see clearly into vehicles. Upon observation of a booster seat or other child restraint law violation, the motorist should be contacted. Other intersections were near elementary school grounds.

Roving Patrol: Dedicated Roving Patrols have been proved to be effective for CPS Enforcement as reported in several CPS demonstration projects. This enforcement method involves officers in vehicles on a dedicated patrol looking for booster seat and other CPS law violators. In many cases, roving patrols are single-vehicle stationary patrols that move from one location to the next based on traffic flow (e.g., staggered dismissal times at elementary schools or similar locations identified in Stationary Patrols).

It has been reported that afternoon rush hour periods as the most effective time for observing child restraint law violators.

Signage: If “Car Seat Enforcement” signs (4x4 or minicade) are provided to a participating agency they must be used during enforcement details. Standard operating procedures will be provided to each LEA for the safe and effective use of roadway signage.

Officer Discretion Issues: Buckle Up PA advocates a “0” Tolerance for Safety Belt Violations. During the Child Passenger Safety Mobilization it is recommended that officers adhere to that policy for any child under 8 years of age that is not in an appropriate child passenger restraint system.Instances of misuse or the incorrect installations of car passenger seats could be subject to a Warning Notice. The decision to issue a citation is always at the discretion of the officer.