Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death for children. Proper car seat usage is crucial for protecting your little ones on the road. For parents in Phoenix, Arizona, understanding the resources available to ensure your child’s safety is paramount. If you’re looking for assistance with car seats, especially if cost is a barrier, exploring free or low-cost programs is a smart step. This article delves into programs like Children Are Priceless Passengers (CAPP) that, while not strictly “free,” offer invaluable resources, education, and car seats to families in need within the Phoenix area in 2023.
Understanding the Children Are Priceless Passengers (CAPP) Program
The Children Are Priceless Passengers (CAPP) program, initiated in 1993 through a partnership between the Tempe Police Department, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Tempe Saint Luke’s Hospital, and the Tempe Municipal Court, stands as a testament to community dedication to child safety. This initiative was born from a critical need to reduce preventable infant and toddler deaths and injuries in Arizona resulting from car accidents. The core mission of CAPP is to educate the public thoroughly on the life-saving effectiveness of consistent and correct child safety seat use.
Alt text: Child safety seat education program in Phoenix, AZ, emphasizing proper car seat installation techniques for parents.
What CAPP Offers: Education and Resources
The CAPP program delivers two-hour child safety classes, available in both English and Spanish, making it accessible to a wider community. These classes are led by nationally certified child passenger safety technicians, ensuring participants receive expert guidance. The curriculum is designed to be comprehensive, covering various critical aspects of child passenger safety.
Participation in CAPP classes is voluntary and also serves an important function for drivers who have received a citation for child safety seat violations. For these drivers, the CAPP class presents a constructive alternative to solely facing fines and the expense of purchasing a new car seat. Often, fines for such violations can exceed $100, making the CAPP program a more beneficial and educational option. Law enforcement agencies typically provide information about the CAPP program to drivers when they are issued citations for violating Arizona’s child restraint laws (ARS §28-907.A and ARS §28-907.B). Information is also disseminated to law enforcement agencies and Municipal and Justice Courts throughout participating locations to ensure broad awareness and accessibility of the program.
Class Fees and Program Sustainability
To maintain and expand its reach, the CAPP program does have a $35.00 administrative class fee. These funds are crucial for the program’s self-sustainability. The monies collected are specifically earmarked in a dedicated account at each agency location. This account is strictly used for purchasing future child safety seats and covering essential administrative expenses. This financial model enables the CAPP program to move towards becoming, and importantly, remaining a self-sustaining resource for the community, ensuring its continued operation and impact.
Inside the CAPP Class: What to Expect
Participants in the CAPP class gain valuable knowledge through a combination of methods. The class delves into the physics of collisions to underscore the importance of car seats. It covers the different types and dynamics of child safety seats, ensuring parents understand the options available and appropriate for their child’s age and size. A key component of the class is practical instruction on how to correctly install and use car seats in vehicles. This is facilitated through instructional videos and hands-on lectures, catering to different learning styles. After the instructional portion, participants actively install their car seats in their own vehicles, applying what they have learned in a real-world setting. Instructors then briefly check each installation to ensure it meets safety standards and to correct any errors.
Car Seats Provided and Citation Reduction
A significant benefit of the CAPP program is the provision of child safety seats. As part of the class fee, participants who do not currently own a car seat, or whose current seat is outdated (expired), has been recalled, involved in a collision, of unknown history, or has inadequate or missing parts, are provided with a new car seat. Upon successful completion of the CAPP class, participants receive a certificate of completion. This certificate can be presented to the participating adjudicating court, often resulting in a reduction of their citation, offering both educational and legal benefits.
While the CAPP program operates in Tempe, AZ, residents of Phoenix and surrounding areas can benefit from these resources. It’s advisable to check for similar programs specifically within Phoenix for the most up-to-date information and accessibility for 2023. Contacting local Phoenix-area police departments, hospitals, or child safety organizations can provide details on free or low-cost car seat programs available in your specific location. Prioritizing your child’s safety is paramount, and programs like CAPP are valuable community assets in achieving that goal.
