Sgt. Ryan Huber and Lt. John Leduc are the two certified technicians to install child safety seats for the department. If someone would like to sent up an appointment to install or check car seats please contact Sgt. Huber and Lt. Leduc at rhuber@tivertonpoliceri.com or jleduc@tivertonpoliceri.com.
Rhode Island has a primary seat belt law (R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22) that encompasses child restraint and child passenger safety.
- A motor vehicle operator shall be properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness system while the vehicle is in operation of any of the roadways, streets, or highways of this state per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(g)(1).
- Any passenger eight (8) years of age or older, in any seating position, shall be transported properly wearing a safety belt and/or harness system per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(b)(1).
- Any person transporting a child under the age of eight (8), less than fifty-seven inches (57”) in height and less than eighty pounds (80 lbs.), in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets or highways of this state, shall transport the child in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle properly restrained in a child restraint system approved by the United States Department of Transportation per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(a)(1).
- All infants and toddlers under the age of two (2) years or weighing less than thirty pounds (30 lbs.) shall be restrained in a rear-facing car seat.
- All children two (2) years of age or older who have outgrown their rear-facing car seat by height or weight should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness up to the maximum allowed by the child restraint manufacturer per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(a)(1).
NOTE: Vehicle operators are responsible for compliance of sections (a), (b), and (f) for all passengers. The fine for a child riding in the front seat and/or over 8 years old not in a seatbelt is $85. A violation for transporting a child not in a child restraint system requires an appearance in court.
The Tiverton Police Department holds regularly scheduled child safety seat installation clinics. Clinics are usually held at Tiverton Police Headquarters, 20 Industrial Way, Tiverton RI 02878. Clinics may also be held at other locations throughout the town.
The Tiverton Police Department has Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can teach you to properly install your child’s safety seat or answer any questions you may have. The following department members are Child Passenger Safety Technicians:
Sergeant John Leduc: 401-816-4453, jleduc@tivertonpoliceri.com
Officer Ryan Huber: 401-816-4456, rhuber@tivertonpoliceri.com
Type of Seat: Infant seats and rear-facing convertible seats
General Guidelines: All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing child 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.
Type of Seat: Convertible seats and forward-facing seats with harnesses
General Guidelines: All children 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their safety seat, should use a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.
Type of Seat: Booster seats
General Guidelines: All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their harnessed child safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Type of Seat: Seat belts
General Guidelines: When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection. All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.