PUNXSUTAWNEY — In conjunction with National Child Passenger Safety Week next week, the Pennsylvania State Police in Troop C will continue their effort to reduce the number of improperly installed child safety seats by offering free safety seat checks to the public.

A seat check will be held in Elk County from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Regional Office, 32 St. Leo Ave., Ridgway.

Appointments, which are appreciated but not required, can be made by calling the station at 814-776-6136.

A seat check will be held in McKean County from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 in Kane Borough, at the McKean County Children’s Advocacy Center, 46 N. Fraley St., Kane. Appointments, which are appreciated but not required, can be made by calling the station at 814-368-9230.

Troopers will examine all child restraint seats for proper installation, and parents will receive instructions on how to correct any deficiencies.

These checks help locate defective seats, seats that are affected by recalls from the manufacturer and also provide an excellent opportunity to have any questions regarding the child passenger safety seat law answered. Pennsylvania law requires the following when transporting children in a motor vehicle:

– Children from birth to 2 years of age are to be secured in an approved rear facing child passenger safety seat.

– Children from 2 to 4 years of age are to be secured in an approved rear or forward-facing child passenger safety seat.

– Children 4 to 8 years of age are to utilize an approved booster seat.

– Any person between 8 and 18 years of age, in any seating location in a vehicle, must be fastened in a seatbelt.

For more information on car seat safety and to get a list of state police car seat safety inspection locations and dates, click on the “Public Services” link at www.psp.state.pa.us.