Marana Police Volunteer Foundation Awarded GOHS Grant

Published on December 02, 2024

News Release

Marana Police Department

Jeffrey Pridgett

Chief of Police

Date: 12/2/2024

Contact:
Molly Metz
Community Resource Officer/ Public Information Officer
(520) 382-2051
MPDPIO@maranaaz.gov

Marana Police Volunteer Foundation Awarded Grant from the Arizona Govenor's Office of Highway Safety

The Marana Police Volunteer Foundation (MPVF) was recently awarded a grant for the FFY 2025 in the amount of $6,465 from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to continue with their collaboration with the Marana Police Department’s Child Car Seat Safety Program. Thanks to GOHS, the MPVF expects to provide approximately 80 child car seats to those in need in the community.

The Marana Police Department Child Car Seat Program provides education and car seats at no cost to low-income families and other families in need. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians install the seats and provide instruction to parents and caregivers about the proper installation.  

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 19. Over half of all child car seats are incorrectly installed or are the wrong size for the child. To be effective, child car seats need to be the correct size and be correctly installed. Children should be at least 4’9”, 8 years of age or older, and pass the 5-step test below, before they stop using a booster seat.

1.            Does the shoulder portion of the seat belt lay mid chest, mid shoulder?

2.            Is the child able to sit with their bottom all the way to the back of the seat?

3.            Does the child’s knees bend at the edge of the seat with their feet on the floor?

4.            Is the lap portion of the seat belt across the child’s upper thighs and hips?

5.            Can the child stay in this position for the whole trip?

If you answer “no” to any one of the questions above, your child still needs a booster seat. If you need a child car seat, an installation, or inspection, please call the Marana Police Department at (520) 382-2051 to inquire about an inspection appointment or go to the Marana Police Department website at www.maranaaz.gov/police and visit the Child Passenger Safety section.