Schedule An Appointment

Call 518-782-2662 to schedule an appointment for a child seat inspection or installation.

Police Phone Numbers

Child Safety Seats

Child Seat logo

Sex Offenders

Colonie Sex Offenders Icon

D.A.R.E.

DARE Flag

Colonie Home

Town of Colonie
Site map

Child Seat Inspection

Patch

4 out of 5 Child Safety Seats
are used INCORRECTLY

Could your child's seat be one of them?

Child Seat

Proper Child Safety Seat Use

Children under 12 are safest when properly restrained in the back seat of a vehicle. No child should ever be placed rear facing if there is an airbag.

Stage 1:
Infants up to one year of age and under 20 pounds should ride in a rear-facing infant seat in the back seat of a vehicle.

Harness straps should be at, or below, shoulder level.

Stage 2:
Infants and children under 1 year of age and less than 30 – 35 pounds should ride in a rear-facing convertible seat. (Seat labels will tell you exact weight.)

It is recommended for optimal protection however, that children remain rear-facing past their first birthday as long as the weight guidelines of the seat are followed and the child’s head is at least one inch below the top of the seat back.

Harness straps should be at, or below, shoulder level.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recomends that "All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.

Stage 3:
Children over one year of age should remain in forward facing convertible seats or combination seats until they reach 40 pounds (around the age of 4) or reach the height limit of their seat. Some Britax models allow harness use until the child reaches 60 pounds.

Harness straps should be at, or above, shoulder level.

Stage 4:
New York State Law:

  • All Children age 7 and under must be in a CSS or booster seat unless:
  • Over 100 lbs
  • Over 4’9” tall (57”)
  • Over 40 lbs and forced to sit in a seating position that does not have a shoulder belt. (Center position in many back seats when the outboard seats are already occupied.)

Booster seats should NOT be used with a lap belt only. The child should be moved to a seating position that has a shoulder belt, where a booster seat can be used. If no shoulder belt positions are available, the child over 40 lbs should be buckled with the lap belt and no booster seat should be used.

No child should ever be rear facing in front of an airbag.

All children age 8– 15 must wear a seat belt. (Ticket goes to the driver)

All occupants in front seat must wear a seat belt.

NHSTA recommends that all children age 12 and under ride in the back seat. This is NOT a law.

MORE INFORMATION ON CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEATS

The Colonie Police Department is now a certified*
Car Seat Fitting Station and offers free safety inspections.

Child safety seat inspections are conducted by the Colonie Police Department by appointment only and for people who live or work in Colonie. You can also visit the New York State Traffic Safety Committee web site at www.safeny.com for a listing of certified car seat fitting stations in the capital region.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Colonie Police Department Community Services Unit at 782-2662.

Don’t live or work in Colonie? Try these local certified fitting stations:

Capital Region Fitting Stations
By Appointment Only

Albany County

AAA Hudson Valley
618 Delaware Avenue
Albany, NY 12209
Contact: 426-1000

Albany County Department of Public Works
449 New Salem Road
Voorheesville, NY 12186
Contact: (518) 765-2565

Albany Police Department, Traffic Safety
Traffic Safety, Public Safety Building
165 Henry Johnson Blvd.
Albany, NY 12206
Contact: (518) 447-7875

Bethlehem Police Department
Delmar Fire Department
145 Adams Street
Delmar, NY 12054
Contact: (518) 439-9973

Cohoes Police Department
97 Mohawk St.
Cohoes, NY 12047
Contact: (518) 237-5333

New York State Police - Troop G
504 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY 12211
Contact: (518) 783-3211

Rensselaer County

Troy Police Department
55 State Street
Troy, NY 12180
Contact: (518) 270-4411

Warren County

AAA Northway
345 Bay Rd.
Queensbury, NY 12804
Contact: (518) 761-6058

Saratoga County

AAA Northway
26 West Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Contact: (518) 761-6058

Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County
50 W. High St.
Ballston Spa, NY
Contact: (518) 885-8995

Mechanicville Police Department
36 North Main St.
Mechanicville, NY 12118
Contact: (518) 664-7383

Saratoga Springs Police Department
Saratoga Fire Department
Lake Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Contact: (518) 584-1800

Schenectady County

AAA Northway
1626 Union St.
Schenectady, NY 12305
Contact: (518) 761-6058

Glenville Police Department
18 Glenridge Road
Glenville, NY 12302
Contact: (518) 384-3444

Niskayuna Police Department
1 Niskayuna Circle
Niskayuna, NY 12309
Contact: (518) 374-3159

Rotterdam Police Department
40 West Campbell Road
Schenectady, NY 12306
Contact: (518) 355-7331

Schenectady Police Department
Schenectady Fire Department Station 1
Schenectady, NY 12305
Contact: (518) 382-5211

Scotia Police Department
4 North Ten Broeck St.
Scotia, NY 12302
Contact: (518) 374-3110

*Child Passenger Safety Technicians are certified by The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA)