No, adults under 5 feet, 4 inches tall don't need a booster seat to drive in Texas starting Aug. 1, despite what viral social media posts claim.
Widely shared posts, styled as a "State of Texas Vehicle Safety Notice," warn that "all adults under 5 feet, 4 inches are required to use approved booster seats at all times" starting this month, adding that "height verification may be conducted during routine stops." State officials say it's a hoax.
Sgt. Adrian Briseno with theTexas Department of Public Safety's Media and Communications Office told USA TODAY that no such law exists.
However, Texas does have booster seat laws for children. Here's what you need to know.
Texas booster seat laws
Under Texas Transportation Code 545.412, it is an offense to operate a vehicle and transport
a child younger than 8 — unless the child is taller than 4 feet, 9 inches — without securing the child in a child passenger safety seat system in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The state also has car seat rules broken down by age that adults need to follow. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $25 to $250.
Free car seat checks in Texas
Through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Texans can get a free car seat check at one of its 25 district offices across the state to ensure their children's car seats are properly installed.
To find a location near you, visit lovemycarseat.org.
What are Texas' child car seat rules by age?
Here are Texas car seat safety guidelines broken down by age, according to TxDOT:
- Birth to two years — All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years old, or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their safety seat's manufacturer.
- Two to four years old — Any child two or older who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for a car seat should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat's manufacturer. This also applies to any child younger than two years who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of their seat.
- Four to eight years old — Children whose weight or height exceeds the limit for a forward-facing car seat should switch to a belt-positioning booster seat. These children should remain in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach 4' 9" in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Texas seat belt law for adults
Texas requires drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts and never tuck the shoulder belt under their arm or behind their back.
There are two types of offenses under the state's seat belt laws.
- The person is at least 15 years of age and is riding in a car while being operated, occupying a seat equipped with a safety belt that is not secured.
- A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $25 to $50.
- The driver of a car allows a child under 17 to ride without a safety belt.
- A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $200.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Viral Texas booster seat law for adults is fake. Here's the real law
