ITHACA, N.Y. -- Many well-intentioned parents dutifully buckle their youngsters into seat belts and car seats designed for children. But some youngsters are too small for seat belts -- and not every car seat is safe or legal for children to use.

Cornell University Police is holding a special child safety seat event April 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cornell Grounds Department shops at 307 Palm Road, off Route 366 near the Cornell Orchards.

The event is open to the general public and will feature child safety seat technicians from area law enforcement agencies, who will be on hand to inspect safety seats for proper installation, damage and recall.

Securing children ages 4 to 6 years old in appropriate child safety seats is not only good sense, it is the law: Effective March 27, New York state law requires that children ages 4, 5 and 6 be in appropriate child restraint systems when riding in motor vehicles. Such systems include special child safety seats, harnesses or booster seats. These devices must be properly designed and installed, and children must be properly fitted for maximum safety.

A limited number of free seats will be available at the event. In addition, members of the Cornell community who meet the income guidelines of the New York state's Women, Infants, Children Program can receive an application for a free seat. For more information about the free seats or the event in general, call the Cornell University Crime Prevention Unit at (607) 255-7404.

This program is funded through a grant by the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.