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Question: Can you report a person driving with children that are not seat belted in?

Answer:

Yes you may report a person driving with children that are not restrained in seat belts.

 

The Phoenix Police Department has a hotline number set up to take these reports.

If you observe a child under the age of 5 not properly restrained while riding in a car, you can call 1-800-505-2229(BABY). They ask that you leave the following information:

1)       The vehicle license number and state.

2)       The city you are in when you observed the child not being buckled up.

3)       Where the child was sitting in the vehicle.

 

A packet of useful information will then be mailed to the registered owner stating that their vehicle was observed transporting an unbuckled child. The material describes the hazards of transporting an unbuckled child under the age of 5, and encourages the owner to purchase a child restraint system. However, because the program is designed to provide information to those who might need it most, the information reported is not provided to the police, insurance companies, or to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division.
Comments
6 thru 10 of 14 comments
On 02/27/08
Rachel from AZ said:
I truly applaud those who set this up and for those who report. I have this number in my cell and on voice dialing, I call so often, unfortunatly. I have 6 children of my own-all 10 and under- and all are properly restrained. My car doesn't move until every belt is buckled. It makes me sick to my stomach to see kids unbuckled, especially when the adults are belted. Why 'grown up' people actually believe that having the child on your lap is better protection than a buckle and car seat in the back seat. Thank you.
On 11/02/07
from AZ said:
As a Paramedic in Arizona i feel it is very important to keep children restrained at all times in a moving vehicle. As adults we make the choice for a child they do not. As someone who has seen what can happen to unrestrained children first hand i can say that car seats are a must and not an option.
On 10/29/07
emily from TX said:
I do not understand these people that say reporting is "snitching" and that we ruin things for others. What about the lives of the families of children who died, just because they werent buckled up. Their lives are ruined now! I am assuming the people that call us snitches are the ones NOT buckling their kids up. I will snitch any day to protect the life of an innocent child!
On 10/17/07
adv from AL said:
Wait so a 5 year old was bicycling...And got hit by a car? what does that have to do with the topic at hand??
On 05/13/06
Karen S from AZ said:
I report violations of a child unrestrained in a vehicle so a child doesn't have to suffer needlessly. About 30 years ago I was in a hospital emergency room and I witness a little boy about age 5 who had been hit by a car while bicycling. The child had a broken leg and broken pelvis in addition to other injuries. He was really hurting. They tried to put in a catheter and he was screaming. Why make a child suffer? If a car seat is used he/she won't hurt.
6 thru 10 of 14 comments


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