Gastonia PD warns public over counterfeit car seats

GASTONIA, NC — A safety warning for parents. Gastonia Police Department want parents to be on the lookout for fake car seats.

The differences are subtle but, it’s enough to save your kids life.

Parents in Gaston County got a tutorial on how to properly install their child’s car seat.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about half of car seats are installed incorrectly.

“The biggest mistake we see is turning them forward, facing too early. We want them to stay rear facing as long as possible and at a minimum of two years,” explained Gastonia PD detective, Jackie Quinley.

Before you put it in the car, the Gastonia Police Department is warning parents to make sure the car seat they’re buying is real.

Quinley says counterfeit car seats are everywhere. TikTok, Etsy, Amazon, any place that has a third party provider could be a fake. Quinley says to check the weight. The lighter it is, the more likely it’s not safe.

“Brand names are really important when it comes to car seats because they’ve been through the crash testing, they’ve been through the research, and they’ve confirmed they’ve conformed to federal motor vehicle safety standards,” said Quinley.