On Sunday, June 22, 2014, Traffic Enforcement Officers deployed throughout the city, stopping vehicles for moving violations and equipment violations, while concentrating their efforts on seat belt and car seat usage.
The deployment will continue through June 28, 2014.
According to police, violations of the seat belt laws are secondary violations in the State of Arizona, meaning that officers cannot stop vehicles based on this violation. However, if a driver is stopped for another violation and is not wearing their seatbelt, the driver can be cited for the seatbelt violation at that time.
Arizona’s child restraint law requires that every child under the age of five must be properly secured in a federally approved child safety seat, appropriate to the child’s height and weight. Each passenger who is at least five years of age, but less than eight years of age, and is not more than four feet nine inches tall, must be restrained in a child restraint system (booster seat). Officers observing violations of this law can stop a vehicle based solely on this violation.
The Tucson Police Department, in partnership with Target Stores, Safe Kids Pima County and Tucson Medical Center will be hosting a car seat check at the Target Store located at 4040 N. Oracle. The event will be held in the store parking lot on Saturday, June 28, 2014 from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Police are encouraging parents that have car seats to come by for a free car seat check to ensure the seat has been properly installed.