But now that the car seat program is available, they are encouraging parents to avail of it because “it will help them.”
Some parents interviewed by this reporter said they still cannot buy a car seat.
“It’s so expensive and the discount [offered by the program] is not enough for us to buy a booster seat,” George Sablan said.
Jenivive Castro, a single mother, said the $100 car seat assistance program is “okay” but not enough.
A car seat sold at Ace Hardware and YCO, the authorized dealers that accept the BMV voucher, costs about $250.
Families who rely on food stamps and other government financial assistance said they cannot afford the car seat.
“I would rather buy my kids food than buy a car seat,” a government employee who declined to be identified said.
E. Castro, an employee of a printing company, said: “With only $100 from [the program], I would rather look for a cheaper car seat [sold by unauthorized dealers].”
Camacho said since the start of the program, the Department of Public Safety has seen a decrease in the number of parents who are not using car seats while driving with children.
