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Texas law generally requires every person sitting in the front seat of any motor vehicle to wear a safety belt. The law also says it is unlawful to operate a passenger vehicle while transporting a child under 4 years of age and 36 inches in height unless the child is secured in a child passenger safety seat system. (A safety belt alone is no longer adequate for children between the ages of 2 and 4 years of age.) It is also unlawful to operate a passenger vehicle with a passenger between 4 and 17 years of age who is not wearing a safety belt, regardless of wether the passenger is in the front or back seat. Passengers 15 and over who are not wearing safety belts in the front seat can be ticketed directly.

For more information on child safety seats, call Safe Rider, Texas Department of Health at 1-800-252-8255 or online at www.saferiders@tdh.state.tx.us.