Child Passenger Safety Law in Texas

Child Passenger Safety Seat Systems (Transportation Code 545.412):
It is an offense if a person transports a child who is younger than eight (8) - unless the child is taller than 4 feet 9 inches - and does not keep the child secured in a child passenger safety seat system while driving a passenger vehicle according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Definitions:

"Passenger vehicle" means a car, light truck, sport utility vehicle, or van designed to transport 15 or fewer passengers, including the driver.

"Child passenger safety seat system" means an infant or child passenger restraint system that meets the federal standards for crash-tested restraint systems as set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

To view Texas Occupant Restraint Laws, visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website.

To view Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) information and programs, visit the TxDOT Child Passenger Safety website.

The Texas Department of State Health Services does not endorse external links to other websites or documents created by other agencies. These links and documents are informational and may not be accessible to persons with disabilities.