Police and ACC staff at a child car restraint safety checkpoint yesterday were shocked to find a young child travelling in the foot well of the front passenger seat of a car.
Police Sergeant Philip Ruddell, of Hamilton's Strategic Traffic Unit, said that officers had set up a checkpoint yesterday afternoon when a people-mover vehicle approached.
Police were "somewhat taken aback to find a four-year-old child sitting in the foot well of the car".
"Ironically the driver and front seat passenger were both wearing their seatbelts, ensuring their own safety yet giving no thought to the safety of the child," he said
The driver was one of 10 to get a ticket for unrestrained children aged under five, four other people were issued tickets for ineffective child restraints and three others for different car restraint issues.
"There were also another 21 infringement notices issued for other matters while several drivers were given the opportunity to properly connect tether straps or issued compliance notices," said Mr Ruddell.
ACC injury prevention consultant Lisa Taylor said unfortunately cases such as that yesterday were not uncommon.
"We've encountered children put under blankets or concealed by other means previously," she said.
Ms Taylor said it wasn't all doom and gloom, with several motorists learning of the checkpoints on the news pulling up and asking for advice.
"We've seen a major turnaround from the earlier education phase where we went into the kindies to speak on the issue... and we're celebrating the safety message that is getting through."
The joint checkpoints will continue until Friday.
