Buckled-up Gas Can Draws Disbelief on Facebook

A photo a suburban Denver police officer took during a traffic stop is drawing comments of disbelief on Facebook, where the Colorado Department of Transportation posted it.

Aurora police Lt. Chuck DeShazer tells our sister station, KMGH-TV in Denver, the photo wasn’t staged. It shows a toddler in a vehicle not wearing a seat belt, sitting beside a car seat with a gasoline can strapped in it. Colorado law requires children under age 8 to be in child safety seats in cars.

DeShazer says an Aurora officer took the photo last week after stopping the vehicle for making an improper turn. The officer found that the toddler, a 14-year-old passenger, and the driver weren’t wearing seat belts.

Police say the driver was ticketed. The driver’s name wasn’t released.

Meanwhile, child safety experts say it’s an important reminder to parents that children should always be in a car seat or booster, depending on their size.

Maile Gray, the executive director of Drive Smart Colorado, said under state law, all children under the age of 8 have to be in a car seat or booster.

However, she said some children need to use a booster longer than that.

According to safety experts, children should stay buckled up with a booster seat until the child is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Colorado Springs police officers are more than willing to check your child’s seat safety. To set up an appointment, call 444-7000 or call Drive Smart Colorado at 444-7534.

For more information on child seat safety, click here.