Staff Reports
There were only 30 child seats in need of crushing on Monday at the Douglas County Transfer Station.
But, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Lt. Mike Biaggini thinks that's a good sign.
"Maybe we're starting to get all the unsafe seats off the road," he said. "The program is working."
The crushed seats were exchanged for new seats during the course of the year because they were damaged, too old or had been recalled.
Sheriff's deputies drove the county's M113A armored personnel carrier, affectionately known as the tank, over the car seats to make sure they never injure a child.
State law mandates that children be in safety seats through age 6 or until they weigh 60 pounds.
The program is financed through a Nevada Office of Traffic Safety grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Biaggini buys $8,000 worth of car seats each year which are stored by Dick Hanson of Gardnerville.
The Kiwanis Club of Carson Valley also assists with the inspections. Participants can expect to spend about 30 minutes for the process, depending on the number of technicians available. Subway Sandwiches provides food for the checkpoints.
Deputies will be checking seats 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mothers Of Preschoolers Child Seat Safety Day. The mothers are starting their event at 9 a.m. at Carson Valley Christian Center.
Anyone who cannot come out for today's child seat check is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office at 782-9905 for an appointment. Seat checks are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
Biaggini said deputies will inspect or install seats.
