Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Louisiana

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state who must wear a seat belt.
• You can match a child's age to the right type of car seat.
• You can explain what the hands-free law allows and forbids.
• You can state the extra phone rules for permit holders and drivers 17 and under.
• You can list ways to remove distractions before you drive.

What you need to know and understand

• All occupants of passenger vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less must be belted, and officers can stop you for it (R.S. 32:295.1).
• Children must ride in an age- or size-appropriate restraint (R.S. 32:295); children under 13 should ride in the back seat when one is available.
• Under R.S. 32:59 you may not hold or physically support a phone or other wireless device while driving unless the vehicle is lawfully stationary. Hands-free use is allowed.
• The hands-free law took effect August 1, 2025, with warnings only until January 1, 2026.
• A hands-free violation in a school zone or highway construction zone can be stopped on its own and carries a $250 fine. Elsewhere the fine is $100 and the offense is secondary, so an officer cites it after stopping you for something else.
• Learner's permit holders may not use a phone at all, even hands-free. Drivers 17 and under may not talk or text except in an emergency.
• Wearing headphones or earbuds in both ears while driving is illegal; one ear is allowed.

Car seat stages from the Driver's Guide

If a child fits more than one category, use the more protective one. Never hold a child on your lap or share one belt. Sit at least 10 inches from an airbag and steer with hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4.

• Birth to at least 2 years: rear-facing car seat.
• 2 to 4 years: forward-facing car seat.
• 4 to 9 years: booster seat.
• 9 years and up: lap and shoulder belt fitted correctly.
• Under 13: back seat when available.

What hands-free does and does not allow

Mounting a phone and using voice commands or a car's Bluetooth system is allowed for drivers covered by the general rule. Holding the phone to talk, scroll, text, watch or record is not. If a crash happens while you are breaking the law, the fine doubles and the officer notes the phone use in the crash report. Calling for help in an emergency is treated differently, but pull over first when you can.

Setting up a distraction-free car

The Louisiana permit practice test on this site includes questions on these rules.

1. Put the phone on silent, on do not disturb, or out of reach before you start the engine.
2. Set your navigation and music while parked.
3. Ask a passenger to handle calls and messages.
4. Check every passenger is buckled before moving off.

Common mistakes

• Picking up the phone in slow traffic. The law only allows handling a device when the vehicle is lawfully stationary, and the safest choice is to wait until you are parked.
• Using a hands-free call on a learner's permit. Permit holders may not use a phone at all.
• Moving a child out of a booster seat too early. Follow the age stages and the seat maker's limits.
• Letting back-seat passengers ride unbelted. Everyone in the car must buckle up.

Test yourself: Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Louisiana

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Louisiana Permit Practice Test
• How to Get a Driver’s License in Louisiana
• Louisiana 6 Hour Pre-Licensing Course for Adult Drivers