The Alberta Occupant Restraint Program has been issuing tickets for improper use of Child Safety Seats.

As part of this enforcement program an option is available to attend an education session that will result in the recommendation to withdraw the ticket.

"Option #4" Education Session: Recommendation for Withdrawal.

Child safety seats are generally not easy to use. Surveys in Alberta have shown that most parents buckle their kids up, but as many as 9 out of 10 child safety seats are used incorrectly. These misuses can make it so the child safety seat or seat belt will not protect the child from injury in a crash. Some children are incorrectly restrained in an adult seat belt system when they should be in a child safety seat and some children are not restrained at all.

The driver is responsible for ensuring that passengers under the age of 16 are correctly secured by seat belts or the appropriate child safety seats. If it is identified that child passengers are incorrectly restrained or not restrained at all, the driver may be issued a ticket for each offence. The driver may also be offered an option to attend an education session to have the ticket withdrawn.

The purpose of the "Option #4" Education Session is to provide parents and care givers the opportunity to receive correct information on how to properly protect children while traveling in motor vehicles. By taking the option to receive information and education on the safe transportation of children, a recommendation will be made to withdraw the ticket.

A recommendation for withdrawing this ticket will be made once you have completed an Education Session on the safe transportation of children and adults in vehicles.

1. For more information on upcoming Education Sessions please click here.

2. Pre-register for an education session at least 4 – 8 weeks prior to your court date which is on the ticket. Program availability is limited.
3. Bring your copy of the ticket and your driver’s license to the education session. The driver receiving the ticket must attend the education session for the withdrawal process to occur. After completing the session, a recommendation for withdrawal will be forwarded to the Clerk of the Court.
4. Other adults may attend if they have pre-registered along with the driver. Please do not bring children to the education session.

Last Updated January 05, 2010