Pictured from L to R: Crpl. Bob Boucher, Kim Hackler,
and Trooper Brian Speigner - all certified CPS Technicians
with the Florida Highway Patrol.

The message was loud and clear on Tuesday afternoon in Tallahassee, "Boost 'Em America!" The Florida Highway Patrol was on hand to help with the National BoostAmerica event held in Tallahassee on Tuesday, January 22nd. The event, sponsored by United Way and Ford Motor Company, offered local and state law enforcement and community help organizations the chance to spread the word on the importance of using booster seats for children ages 4-8. At least two dozen Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians showed up for the event - some from Troops A & H of the Florida Highway Patrol, others from the Tallahassee Police Department and still more from the Leon County Sheriff's Office. All technicians were available to help educate parents and care givers on the importance of graduating children from child passenger safety seats into booster seats.

Top Row: Lt. Tommy Moore, Kim Hackler,
Brian Speigner, Bob Boucher, Lt. Joe Tucker,
(not pictured - Daniel Jones) - all FHP certified technicians
on hand to help with the BoostAmerica event.

Since motor vehicle seat belt systems are not designed for children under the age of 8 or 80 pounds, the use of booster seats is crucial for keeping children safe on Florida's roadways. At the end of the event, hundreds of booster seats were donated by the event's sponsors to local law enforcement agencies to distribute to Florida families who need booster seats to ensure their children's safety.