Safe Kids

Northeastern Montana Safe Kids, Safe Communities addresses injury prevention as it relates to child car seats, seat belt usage, impaired driving and underage drinking.

Did you know. . . ?
The leading cause of death and injury to the population of 19 years and younger in Richland County are motor vehicle crashes.

What can you do so your child rides as a passenger the safest way possible?

• Selecting the right car seat for your child’s age, weight and height is very important.  4 out of 5 car seats are not installed or used properly  
• Have your child’s car seat checked at the Health Department or at a car seat checkpoint event. 
• Children 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a rear seat. 
• Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an airbag.
• Small children should ride in a back seat in a car seat approved for their age and size.

What Do I Do Next?
Help is just a phone call away.

• Call the Health Department at 433-2207 for assistance in properly installing your child’s car seat. 
• When funding allows, we have car seats available that are distributed on a sliding fee scale according to your family’s income.  
• These seats are available for children who are a permanent residents of Richland, McCone or Sheridan County.  
• We can supply one seat per child in need when funding allows, but we can check other seats if you have a second vehicle your child rides in.

Montana Child Safety Restraint Laws

What is the current Montana Child Safety Restraint Law?   
If a child under 6 years of age or weighing less than 60 pounds is a passenger in a motor vehicle, that motor vehicle must be equipped with one child safety retraint for each child in the vehicle and each child must be properly restrained. 

What if the child is 6 1/2 years old, but only weighs 58 pounds?
Before a child may use a standard safety belt, he/she must be at least six years old and weigh at least 60 pounds.  A safety belt used as the sole restraint for a child does not meet the law’s requirement of “properly restrained.” A motor vehicle crash could cause serious injruy or death to a child who is not properly restrained. 

Must I have a Child Safety Restraint for each child?
Yes, the motor vehicle must have one restraint for each child in the vehicle and the child must be properly restrained. 

What is the penalty for violation of the Child Safety Restraint Law?        
Violation of Montana’s Child Restraint Law s punishable by a fine of up $100.

For more information contact Christy Kapor at the Health Department at (406) 433-2207.