Townsend Police Department

 Resources

Gun Lock Program

The Townsend Police Department received a shipment of cable-style gun lock through a $50,000,000. grant being funded by the Department of Justice and administered by the National Shooting Sports Foundation under the title “Project Child Safe”. This program has also been run by this department in 2003 and 2004 with demand to be very significant.

The idea of the distribution of these devices is to raise awareness to gun owners how to safely and legally store firearms within the home and to prevent tragic firearms accidents which often result from unsafe handling or storage of firearms, which many times involve young children.

Anyone needing one of these devices is urged to come into the police station or stop by the Community Outreach Center at the Harbor Village Mall and simply ask for a gun lock. We have received a significant number of these devices and are offering them to anyone who asks, not just residents. The only thing that would  be asked is that you provide your name and address, which will be kept  within our own records and not distributed, so that we can track the success of this program.

Project ChildSafe is a nationwide program whose purpose is to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices among all firearms owners through the distribution of key safety education messages and free gun locking devices.

http://www.projectchildsafe.org/      Gun Locks and Safety Information

Internet Safety

The following websites provide useful information to aid parents in educating themselves and their children in safe Internet practices:
ProtectKids.com
SafeKids.com
GetNetWise.org
MissingKids.com

Infants and small children must ride in car seat until:
1) They are at least 5 years old
AND
2) They weigh over 40 pounds.
The types of car seats permitted include federally approved infant, toddler, convertible and booster seats.
Children who weigh more than 40 pounds but are under 5 years old must ride in a booster seat.
Children who are 5 years of age or older, and also weigh more than 40 pounds, must wear a seat belt that is properly adjusted. (M.G.L Chapter 90 Section 7AA; Chapter 90 Section 13 A)
Federally approved booster seats are permitted and recommended for children who weigh between 40 and 60 pounds.
Children using the vehicle seat belt only should not place shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.

This law applies to children riding in:
-all types of privately owned vehicles.
- vehicles for hire, including taxi cabs. It is the responsibility of the child’s parent or care giver to provide the car seat to use in a taxi cab.

This law does not apply to:
- children riding in school busses.
- children riding in a vehicle made before July 1, 1966 that does not have safety belts.
- children physically unable to use either a conventional car seat or a child restraint specifically designed for children with special needs. Inability to use a child restraint of either type must be certified in writing by a physician.

THE SAFEST PLACE FOR CHILDREN IS IN THE BACK SEAT!

Fine:
The driver will be fined $25 for each unrestrained child. Exception: If a child rides unrestrained in a taxi cab, the child’s care giver will be fined, not the taxi driver.
NOTE: This is a primary enforcement law. A police officer may stop your car if one or more children are riding unrestrained. No other reason is needed.

For more information contact: Injury Prevention and Control Program, Mass. Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.
Or call toll free: 1-800-227-SAFE.