What is the penalty for not securing a child in a car seat?

Explanation

Failing to secure a young child in an appropriate car seat is a traffic violation in every state, and it usually carries a significant fine. For a first offense, the fine might be something like $50 to $150 (this varies by state), but it can be higher, especially for repeat offenses. Some states will also add points to your driver’s license for a car seat violation, which can affect your insurance. More importantly, if you get pulled over and a child in your car is not properly restrained, the officer will likely require you to correct the situation on the spot (for example, you might not be allowed to drive off until the child is buckled in correctly). In some cases, officers have car seats on hand to lend or give if the driver truly doesn’t have one. The penalties can escalate for subsequent violations – higher fines and even court appearances. Beyond legal penalties, not securing a child is extremely dangerous; unrestrained children can be seriously injured or killed even in minor crashes. Law enforcement and courts take these violations very seriously (some states even require offenders to attend a child safety class). In short: the penalty is typically a fine (and possibly points), but the real penalty could be harm to your child – so always use the proper car seat or booster as required.