Spring Hill, TN – Every year during the third week of September, Tennessee joins the nation in observing Child Passenger Safety Week. This is our chance to spread awareness, make sure car seats and booster seats are being used correctly, and give parents & caregivers the tools they need to protect the youngest passengers.

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be one of the leading causes of injury and death for children in Tennessee and the U.S. Many injuries occur because the restraint system is wrong for the child’s age, weight or height — or because it’s improperly installed. Proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts can significantly reduce the risk of serious harm.

Children under one year of age and weighing twenty pounds or less

Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, up to 50 pounds for some car seats, it may continue to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight and height permit. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for more information.)

Children ages one through three

Children age one (1) through age three (3), and weighing more than twenty (20) pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, up to 50 pounds for some car seats, it may continue to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight and height permit. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for the specific minimum weight and height limits to use in the forward-facing mode.)

Children age four through eight

Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.) (Note: Many car seats have higher weight and height limit that allows older children to remain in a harnessed car seat beyond 4 years of age, up to 65 pounds for many car seat models currently available. This is permissible when following the car seat manufacturers instructions. All booster seats currently approved for use in the US require a minimum weight of 40 pounds.)

Children ages nine through twelve

Children age nine (9) through age twelve (12), or any child through twelve (12) years of age, measuring four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, must be secured in a seat belt system. It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available. (Note: If the child is not between age nine (9) and age twelve (12), but is four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)

More information and frequently asked questions can be found here on the Tennessee Highway Safety Office website.

The SHPD does have certified child safety seat technicians available on some shifts to install or check your child’s restraint seat. Please call our dispatch center at 931-486-2632 to see if a technician is working.

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Spring Hill, TN – On August 10th at 8:15 PM officers responded to a reported shooting at 3085 Commonwealth Drive at the Grand Reserve apartments. Officers found a 17-year-old in the parking lot who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The juvenile was transported to a local emergency room, where he was later pronounced deceased. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim, mourning this unimaginable loss.

The description of the vehicle the shooter left in is a blue sedan. No suspects have been identified. Detectives are on-scene collecting physical evidence and interviewing potential witnesses.

If you have information regarding this incident, anonymous tips can be submitted here.

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Spring Hill, TN – On July 28th at approximately 1:45 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting at the Worthington Glen Apartments. Upon arrival, officers located a 21-year-old female and a 21-year-old male lying on the ground in the parking lot outside one of the apartment buildings. Both individuals had sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel administered life-saving measures at the scene. The male was airlifted to a trauma center, and the female was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital. As of July 29th, both individuals remain in serious condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the male and female were acquaintances. The male allegedly forced entry into the apartment where the female was and assaulted her. He then took her phone and exited the residence. After driving through the parking lot, he returned to the area where the female was standing. The female reportedly yelled for him to return her phone. The male then parked his vehicle, exited, and allegedly assaulted her again. The confrontation escalated, resulting in the female discharging a handgun and striking the male. Shortly afterward, the male returned fire, striking the female.

No other individuals were injured during the incident. Detectives collected physical evidence and interviewed multiple witnesses at the scene. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

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Spring Hill, TN – With the 2025-2026 K-12 school year almost here, we wanted to remind the motoring public of applicable law relating to school buses. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-151 states in part, “The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus. The driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated.”

Depending on if you are traveling on a two-lane road, multi-lane road, or divided highway will determine if you need to stop or not. On a two-lane road, everyone stops. On a four-lane highway with a center turn lane, everyone stops. If the four-lane has a divider, like a median or an unpaved area at least 5 feet wide, traffic in the opposite direction can proceed cautiously. Only traffic behind the bus must stop.

Kids getting on or off a bus are often unpredictable. They may cross the street quickly or step out from in front of the bus without warning. Drivers who ignore a bus’s stop sign put these children directly in harm’s way. It only takes one careless moment to cause a devastating accident.

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