ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University Police have been awarded a grant from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee that will enable the purchase of car safety seats for the children of eligible students and employees.

A demonstration of how to install a child safety seat correctly will be given on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. in the parking lot at Barton Hall, where the safety-seat program will be announced. Officer George Sutfin will show how the seats should be installed for maximum safety.

Feb. 9-16 is National Child Passenger Safety Week. According to New York state law, all children under the age of 4 must ride in federally certified child safety seats. Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury-related death among children under age 14. Riding unrestrained is the greatest risk factor for children.

"Cornell Police Department has had zero tolerance enforcement for not having children in safety seats and other seatbelt violations," said Sgt. Charles Howard, coordinator of traffic enforcement activities. Recognizing that the cost of safety seats can be a financial burden, especially for families of graduate students, he applied for and received the $2,000 state grant that allows Cornell Police to purchase seats for distribution. "Now instead of tickets, we can give out seats," he said.

Applications for the safety seats can be received by calling Cornell Police Crime Prevention Unit at (607) 255-7404 or going to the police office in Barton Hall. Eligibility is limited to members of the Cornell community, based on the income guidelines of the New York State WIC program. Also eligible are any Cornell students and employees who currently have seats that have been recalled or damaged in an accident.

The child seat program is part of ongoing Cornell Police efforts to improve traffic safety on campus. The department has received grants to enhance its seatbelt education and enforcement efforts from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.