Counterfeit car seats are more common than you might think

SURE PROPERLY PROTECTS YOUR CHILDREN. I’VE GOT JULIA RIGHT HERE. SHE’S ONE AND A HALF AS THE FATHER OF TWO LITTLE GIRLS. CHRIS GOOD. HOW IMPORTANT. THE RIGHT CAR SEAT. IT’S JUST KNOWING, HAVING THAT PEACE MIND, KNOWING THAT WE’RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE SAFE. CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE ISN’T ALWAYS EASY. THE GEORGIA OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY RECENTLY POSTED THIS PHOTO OF WHAT IT CALLS A COUNTERFEIT SEAT, ADDING IT’S NOT COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. SAFETY EXPERT FRITZIE SCHEFFLER SAYS A GROWING NUMBER OF THESE CAR SEATS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. UNFORTUNATELY THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEBODY OUT THERE LOOKING TO MAKE A BUCK WHILE NON-COMPLIANT MAY LOOK OKAY. THERE ARE THINGS YOU SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR, BEGINNING WITH THE PRICE POINT. IF IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S TOO GOOD OF A IT PROBABLY IS. IF YOU SEE THAT IT’S COMING FROM A VENDOR AND MAYBE IT’S COMING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, THAT’S AN IMMEDIATE RED FLAG OF THIS MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT. BUT BUYER BEWARE, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE CAR SEATS THAT DO NOT MEET FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON, SALE AT REPUTABLE WEBSITES AND AND MORTAR STORES. YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS AND IF IT SEEMS FLIMSY, IF YOU CAN BEND PLASTIC THAT IS PROBABLY NOT A CERTIFIED CAR SEAT CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS THAT MEET REGULATIONS LIKE THIS ONE WILL SAY SO USUALLY ON THE LABEL. THE SEATS WILL ALSO INCLUDE A REGISTRY CARD AND WILL BE LABELED WITH MODEL NUMBER DID IT WAS MANUFACTURED AND ITS EXPIRATION. YOU SHOULD ALSO LOOK FOR SEATS WITH CHEST CLIPS IF DON’T SEE THAT THAT IS NOT A LEGAL SEAT TO BE USED IN THE UNITED STATES. IF IN DOUBT, ASK QUESTIONS SINCE MAKING SURE YOUR CHILD IS PROPERLY IN A VEHICLE IS THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY IN THE EVENT A CRASH. JULIA HAIR IS IN A REAR FACING ONE. CHRIS SAYS IT’S WORTH IT TO MAKE SURE HIS GIRLS ARE SAFE. ANNE SHANN