The Florida Highway Patrol continues its commitment to ensuring that all children ride safely on Florida’s roadways. Since recent national statistics show that 80% of all child safety seats are improperly installed, it continues to be critical that law enforcement personnel help educate the public on the proper installation and use of child restraint devices. FHP, recognizing the importance of this issue, makes available troopers and other FHP personnel who are certified technicians to instruct parents on the proper installation and use of child safety seats and booster seats. Currently, every FHP Troop across our state sets up regular child safety seat checks or classes to assist the public in identifying unsafe and improperly installed child safety seats as well as offering resource materials with the most current information available on a child passenger safety and occupant protection.

To further encourage traffic safety and the use of child safety seats and seat belts, FHP maintains six troopers in six troops. The CPS program is managed by the Florida Highway Patrol’s Public Affairs Office. Kim Jones was hired to manage and coordinate the Child Passenger Safety & Occupant Protection Programs and oversee the grants that supply the additional personnel, seats, supplies, and additional materials needed for the program. Since Kim is also a Certified Technician, she serves as the Occupant Protection Specialist for General Headquarters.

The six troopers on the OPS Team are all CPS certified technicians who serve as Occupant Protection Specialists for the counties in each of their troops. Troopers Reginald Edwards, Dawn Tomlinson, Conya Bassett, Wanda Diaz, Lucy Papp, and Mary Jackson comprise the Occupant Protection Team.

Each of the Occupant Protection Specialists is responsible for administering the child safety seat and occupant protection activities for their respective troops, and conducts child passenger safety checks and/or classes for the general public, health care workers, private and civic groups, and fellow FHP personnel. In addition, these troopers coordinate and oversee traffic safety presentations designed for a variety of audiences, including area high school students, on the importance of safety belt use. These troopers also serve as resources for other agencies on child passenger safety issues, and work closely with their local County Tax Collectors Office to promote the $2 Difference Program, another program providing child safety seats to needy Florida families. Currently, the Florida Highway Patrol has 32 CPS Technicians, and three Instructors.

Occupant Protection & Child Passenger Safety News