TSTC Traveling Tots

A partnership program of the TSTC Police, Support Services & Student Congress.The appropriate type of child safety seats, for newborns, can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 69 % for infants.

• State of Texas Transportation Code
• Funding and Training
• Qualifications
• How to Apply
• Program Guidelines
• Student Training
• Safety Tips

Partnerships and Purpose

By partnering with the TSTC Support Services and the TSTC Student Congress, who play important roles with the married student families and student single parents, the TSTC Police Department can promote child safety through this program.

State of Texas Transportation Code

545.412. Child passenger safety seat systems; offense.

1. A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger car or light truck and
   1. Transports a child younger than two years of age and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the manufacture of the safety seat system;
   2. T ransport a child who is at least two years of age but younger than four years of age and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle
2. An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $25.00 or no more than $50.00.

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Funding and Training

By obtaining funds from the Texas Department of Health, Safe Riders Program and donations from the TSTC Faculty, Staff and TSTC Clubs, the TSTC Police Department and Special Support Services can now issue child passenger safety seats to qualified TSTC students.

After applying for state sponsored funding, TSTC Police Department, Support Services personnel and other outside Law Enforcement Agencies attended an eight (8) hour in-service training. The certified training from trainers from the Texas Department of Health, Safe Riders provided proper in-sight on the child passenger safety national statics, federal guidelines, proper sizing, equipment inspections, installation of the child safety seats and training on how to train the qualified students who wish to receive the child passenger safety seats. The hands on training, that was required, assisted all participants in the actual installation of a child safety seat.

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Qualifications

To apply for a car seat, each applicant must meet the qualifications set forth. Each application will then be reviewed and a car seat will be issued, on the most in need. The qualifications are:

1. Be a full time student at TSTC.
2. Complete the Traveling Tots Car Seat Application.
3. Provide required written documentation.
4. Participate and successfully complete the required one (1) hour training.
5. Agree to establish some type of purchase plan of a personally owned car seat

How to Apply

To apply to for a TSTC Child Passenger Seat, the student may complete the included e-mail
application or simply ask for an application at the TSTC Support Services Office,
located in the Auxiliary building, and return the written application to the TSTC Support Services.
Each E-Mail application will be processed by the TSTC Police Department and forwarded to the TSTC Support Services Department.

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Program Guidelines

All students who apply and are qualified to receive a car seat must agree to sign off on the program guidelines. The program guidelines are as follows:

1. Each applicant is aware that a sub-committee will evaluate each application and issue the car seat to the most in need.
2. Each applicant knows that the issued car seat is the sole property of TSTC and it is to be returned in good condition.
3. Each applicant must attend, prior to the issue, the TSTC Traveling Tots Car Set training.
4. Each car seat shall be returned at the end of each semester. The applicant may use the car seat for an additional semester with a receipt verifying the intent to purchase.
5. Each applicant shall bring to the TSTC Police Department or TSTC Support Services building the vehicle in which the car seat will be installed in.
6. Each applicant then will be trained on the installation and will be required to demonstrate how to install a car seat.
7. If the applicant chooses not to return the car seat, there will be a "HOLD" status placed on the their school records, until the car seat or compensation for the seat is agreed to.
8. The failure to comply with the Traveling Tots Car Seat requirements may be cause to lose eligibility in the Traveling Tots Car Seat Program.

NOTE: All vehicle car seats are the sole property of TSTC. TSTC may at any time, with just cause, request the return of the property, if any rule is disregarded or violated. Failure to return property may be considered and act of theft. (State of Texas Penal Code; 31.01 & 31.03)

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Student Training

Each applicant that receives a passenger car seat shall attend the required TSTC Traveling Tots training program. The training program will be instructed by a certified State of Texas Department of Health Safe Rider Program trainer.

The training will consist of the following:

• Review of required written documentation
• Completion of required written documentation
• Liability issues
• Essential parts of a passenger car seat
• Training video
• Practical Exercise (Installation practice)

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10 Basic Child Safety Seat Tips

1. The safest place for a child is generally in the back seat passenger area.
2. Place babies up to 20 pounds and about age one (1), facing to the rear (facing the backseat). Children over 20 pounds and about age one (1), facing forward (facing the back of the front seat.
3. If the safety seat can be used facing either way. Use the correct belt slot for each direction.
4. Always keep the straps of the seat over the child’s shoulders.
5. When children out grow the child safety seat, around age four (4) and forty (40) pounds, place the vehicle lap seat belt snug across the child’s thighs. The shoulder belt goes over the shoulder and across the chest area. Never under the arms.
6. Anyone riding loose in a vehicle can hurt those who are buckled up by being thrown against them.
7. One belt for one person.
8. A new born should ride where an adult can keep an eye on them.
9. Passenger-side air bags can injure infants and young children.
10. Never place a seat belt around you and the child.

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