SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue will host a Child Safety Seat Checkup July 28 at Fire Station 1 across from City Hall on Spanish Fort Boulevard.

Fire Chief Roger Few said the event will last from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

State law requires the use of age- and size-specific restraints for children traveling in motor vehicles, and adults found in violation of the law can be fined $25 per citation.

Current law requires the use of proper child restraints until children are either 4 feet 9 inches tall or weigh more than 80 pounds.

The Alabama Department of Public Health also strongly suggested children 12 and younger ride in the back seat of a vehicle because theirs softer bones, weaker neck muscles and more fragile bodies make them more susceptible to injury than adults.

For specific age- and size-specific child restraint guidelines, visit www.adph.org.

According to Safe Kids USA, an estimated 975 children under the age of 14 die in motor vehicle accidents, but properly restrained children have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury.

The national watchdog group also estimates restraint use for children 8 years and younger has increased from 15 percent in 1999 to 73 percent in 2005, the most recent year for which data was available.