A Complete Guide to the Texas Child Seatbelt Laws

Do you live in or plan to visit the Lone Star State? If you are driving with a child, you need to know the Texas child seatbelt laws. This will help you keep the child safe while preventing you from violating the state’s laws.

Our concise guide to theTexas child seatbelt laws will explain all the important aspects, such as:

• What the law states
• How much a seatbelt ticket costs
• How you can contest the ticket

What Are the Child Seatbelt Laws in Texas?

Since children are the most vulnerable passengers, it’s important to use the appropriate child restraint systems. The right device depends on the child’s age, weight, and height. Here is an overview of the Texas child car seat laws:

Exceptions to these requirements are allowed if a child outgrows the car seat manufacturer’s guidelines for height and weight limits.

The Texas child seatbelt laws do not designate specific seating positions for children but require you to follow the recommendations of the child restraint manufacturer. For instance, most rear-facing car seats should not be used in a front passenger seat that has an active airbag.

The law applies to passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, and vans that have a capacity of 15 or fewer persons, including the driver. Vehicles for hire—such as hired shuttles, taxi cabs, limousines, public transit buses, and vehicles in which all safety belts are in use—are exempted from the TX child seatbelt laws.

Cost of a Seatbelt Ticket in Texas

If you violate the Texas child seatbelt laws, you will be issued a seatbelt ticket. The costs of seatbelt tickets are as follows:

• $25 to $250 for violations of child seatbelt laws involving children under the age of eight
• $100 to $200 for not securing a child under 17 years—who is not required to use a child passenger restraint system—with a safety belt

You may also be required to appear in court and attend a driving safety course that is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. After completing the course, you must provide proof of successful completion. The offense is not a moving violation, but you can get two demerit points on your driving record.

The Texas traffic courts can dismiss the ticket if you acquire the right child restraint system after the violation and meet the following conditions at the time of violation:

• You were not arrested or cited for any other offense
• You didn’t have a child passenger restraint system in the vehicle
• The vehicle was not involved in an accident

The consequences of child seatbelt violations and ticket non-compliance vary across the country. Check out our guides to children seatbelt laws in different states:

How To Appeal a Seatbelt Ticket in Texas

Getting a seatbelt ticket dismissed can save you from a lot of trouble. For instance, insurance companies use your driving record, among other factors, to determine your insurance rates. Here is how you can contest a seatbelt ticket:

1. Use reasonable doubt—This means that you plead not guilty, and it can work if the officer did not pull you over to confirm that the child was properly secured. All you need to do is present a credible explanation of why the officer made the mistake
2. Raise due diligence defense—In this case, you accept that the child was not properly restrained and provide valid reasons, such as:
   • A faulty seatbelt clip
   • The child’s needs that you had to take care of
   • A physical/medical condition
   • The child’s body size

Sounds overwhelming? You don’t have to do it yourself or hire an attorney. DoNotPay can help you contest the ticket in under five minutes.

Appeal Your Seatbelt Ticket Using DoNotPay

Do you want to avoid paying fines, going to court, or taking safety driving courses? You should appeal the ticket by using DoNotPay. Our AI-powered app will draft an appeal letter with the best possible defense in less than five minutes. To use DoNotPay, proceed as follows:

1. Sign up and select the Seatbelt Ticket product
2. Answer a few questions to help us understand the situation
3. Upload a photo of the ticket
4. Tell us which argument to use—not guilty or guilty with a valid reason

That’s all! Your appeal letter will be sent to the authorities in no time, and you just need to wait for the outcome.

Do you want to know what can happen if the driver or other adult passengers are not wearing a seatbelt? Check out our detailed guides for all U.S. states in the table below:

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