Child and passenger safety and their seats are of great importance to the NMSU Fire Department. 

Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental injury-related deaths among children age 14 and younger? Fifty percent of children ages 1 to 14 who die in crashes are unrestrained. A properly used child safety seat can reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for children ages 1 to 4.

An estimated 3 out of 4 child safety seats are used incorrectly.

Fitting Station, LAS CRUCES (Confirmed)
Thursday, May 5, 2022, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sisbarro Buick and GMC, 425 W. Boutz Road
Senior Technician: Arnold Diaz

One resource we use is the Safer New Mexico Now website. Check out their:

• Home Page
• FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here are two resources you can use who can provide a car seat:

Dona Ana County Health & Human Services

(575) 525-5870

Ben Archer Health Center – Las Cruces

(575)-373-3088

They can also assistant you in fitting the chair in your car!

Virtual inspections:

Car seat inspections are still possible by way of virtual instruction. The New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Division and Safer New Mexico Now will host virtual car seat education sessions through Zoom. The one-on-one sessions will provide parents and caregivers instruction on the proper selection, installation and use of their car seats from nationally certified child passenger safety technicians.

The virtual sessions will occur every first and third Wednesday of the month between noon and 2 p.m. Sessions are by appointment only. All participants will be required to electronically sign a waiver of liability prior to their scheduled session.

Parents and caregivers must have a valid email address, access to the internet or Wi-Fi, and the ability to use Zoom through the website https://zoom.us/ or by downloading the app.
Additional requirements include:

• Car or booster seat, along with the manual
• Vehicle manual
• Laptop or smartphone with video capabilities
• The child’s exact height and weight
• Child should be present if possible
• A second person may be helpful to assist with the camera/video session

Technicians will spend approximately 30 minutes per seat providing education on the correct selection, installation, and use of their car or booster seat. Parents and caregivers will also learn important information regarding common errors in car seat safety and be able to ask questions.

Replacement seats will not be available for zoom meetings.

The virtual car seat education sessions are a free public service funded by the NMDOT and are available to everyone. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (800) 231-6145 or (505) 856-6143.

NMSU Fire Department does have a Certified Car Seat Technician who has a national Child Passenger Safety (CPS) certification. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us call our office at 575.646.2519.

In-person inspections:

Throughout New Mexico, there are fitting stations that you can drop by and have your child/passenger fitted. This is a free service to the public. In Las Cruces, here is the location and dates: April 7, 2022.

1st Thursday of every month

Fitting Station – LAS CRUCES

3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sisbarro Buick-GMC, 425 West Boutz Road in Las Cruces

This free educational event provides parents and caregivers instruction on the proper selection, installation, and use of their car seats from nationally certified child passenger safety technicians.

Technicians will spend approximately 30 minutes per seat educating parents on the proper selection, installation, and use of their car and booster seats. Parents and caregivers will also learn important information regarding common errors in car seat safety and be able to ask questions. If a technician determines a car seat to be recalled, expired, or otherwise unsafe, replacement seats will be available.

To participate in the Car Seat Fitting Station, parents and caregivers should bring their car seat, car seat manual, vehicle manual, and the child should be present if possible.  Car seat inspections are by appointment only, no walk-ins will be accepted. All participants are required to follow COVID-Safe protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing.

If you would like to make an appointment at the Fitting Station in your community outside of Las Cruces, please call Safer New Mexico Now at 1-800-231-6145 for locations and times or check out the Safer Now Fitting schedule.