A Permanent Checking Station (PCS) is a location where caregivers can meet with Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) to learn how to use and install their car seats and booster seats. North Carolina has an extensive network of hundreds of PCS locations, serving nearly all 100 NC counties. NC utilizes the buckleupnc.org system to organize, support, and communicate with Permanent Checking Stations.
Permanent Checking Stations provide a beneficial service to their communities by teaching caregivers how to use their car seats and booster seats correctly. Benefits for the agency include:
Do we need to be available to check car seats all the time?
No. Your agency should select the days and times that work for your staff and community. Some PCSs only offer services by appointment while others have specific days and times they are available for walk-in assistance. The listing on buckleupnc.org allows each location to specify their hours of operation, public contact, and general information.
Are there costs associated with being a PCS?
There are no fees for becoming an NC-recognized PCS. However, PCS locations are required to have current nationally certified CPSTs available for seat checks and car seat education. There are some fees associated with receiving and maintaining that certification. Information on certification and recertification requirements and fees is available from Safe Kids Certification.
Do we need a dedicated space for car seat checks?
You do not need to have a space dedicated solely for car seat checks. However, each PCS will need to identify a location where they can safely check car seats. This could be a section of your parking lot or other location at your facility or at a partner agency’s facility.
What about liability?
The NC Child passenger safety technician; limitation of liability law (G.S. 20-137.5) provides protection for nationally certified technicians and their sponsoring agencies when acting in good faith and within the scope of their training.
Are there any administrative requirements?
North Carolina PCSs are asked to either document seat checks using the National Digital Check Form or submit a simple report of the total number of families and number of children served each quarter. This is very important as it allows us to quantify the impact NC checking stations have across the State.
