Beverly Hills parents can get their children's car seats inspected and properly installed for free on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Fire Station 1.

The city's Just in Case BH emergency preparedness program is partnering with Kids-are-1st, a nonprofit focused on child safety, to staff the checkpoint from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 445 N Rexford Dr. Certified technicians will check whether seats are the right type for a child's age and size, then adjust or reinstall them on the spot.

The event is free. Spots can be reserved through the city's event page linked above.

The checkpoint falls on the opening day of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs Sept. 20–26. September is also National Preparedness Month.

The stakes behind a proper installation are significant. Nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly, even when parents believe they've done it right, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Correctly installed seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in passenger car crashes, the agency reported.

In 2023, an estimated 125,803 children ages 14 and younger were injured while riding in passenger vehicles, and another 700 were killed. Traffic crashes remain a consistent leading cause of death for children, according to NHTSA data.

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison urged families to take advantage of free local checkpoints during Child Passenger Safety Week in September 2025. "We encourage all parents and caregivers to make sure their child is in the right seat for their age and size," Morrison said in a consumer alert at the time. He added that "double checking a seat could save a child's life."

Kids-are-1st is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to keep children and families safe in vehicles, as pedestrians and at home. Just in Case BH is Beverly Hills' citywide emergency preparedness program, which organizes public safety events throughout the year.

No capacity limit for the Sept. 20 checkpoint has been announced. Residents can visit the city's event listing or contact the Beverly Hills Fire Department for more information.