Child Passenger Safety

Texas law requires every person sitting in the front seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. The law also states that all children under 17 years old must be secured with a safety belt, or in a child safety seat, whether they are sitting in the front, or the back seat.  A child less than four years old, or less than 36 inches tall, must be secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of their passengers under 17 years old, are not buckled up or properly restrained. A safety belt violation can result in a fine of $100 to $200, or mandatory attendance at a traffic safety education class dealing with child safety seats and safety belts.

Unrestrained drivers - and passengers 15 and over who are not wearing safety belts in the front seat - can be ticketed directly.  Fines range from $25 to $50.

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