Seat belts, child seats and phone laws in Texas

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who must wear a seat belt and who is responsible for it.
• You can decide when a child needs a child safety seat.
• You can explain the under-18 phone ban and the statewide texting ban.
• You can follow the phone rules in school zones.
• You can set up your car to avoid distraction before you drive.

What you need to know and understand

• Everyone 15 and older must wear a seat belt, and the driver must make sure passengers under 17 are belted.
• Children under 8 must ride in a child safety seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches.
• Seat belt fines are $25 to $50 for your own belt and $100 to $200 to the driver for an unbelted passenger under 17.
• Drivers under 18 may not use any wireless device while driving, handheld or hands-free, except in an emergency.
• All drivers are banned from reading, writing or sending electronic messages on a handheld device unless the vehicle is stopped.
• Texting or under-18 phone fines are $25 to $99 for a first offense and $100 to $200 after a prior conviction.
• In a school crossing zone, phone use is banned unless you are stopped or using a hands-free device.

Belts and child seats

Buckle up before the engine starts, and check everyone else is belted before you move off. The fine for an unsecured young child can be $25 to $250. It is also an offense to drive a pickup or flatbed with anyone under 18 riding in the open bed, except in narrow cases such as parades and emergencies.

Texas phone rules compared

If texting causes a death or serious injury, it is a Class A misdemeanor with up to $4,000 and a year in jail. Our Texas phone and texting laws guide explains each rule and its defenses in more detail.

• Under 18, learner or provisional: no phone use at all, even hands-free or with a supervisor in the car, except in an emergency
• All drivers: no texting, emailing or reading messages on a handheld device unless stopped
• Adults may use GPS, play music and use hands-free calling under the texting law
• School crossing zones: hands-free only, or stopped
• Some cities ban all handheld use and must post signs where highways enter the city

Getting ready before you move

1. Set your GPS route and music while parked.
2. Put your phone on do-not-disturb and out of reach.
3. Adjust seat, mirrors and climate controls.
4. Secure loose items and pets so they cannot distract you.
5. If you need to use the phone, pull over safely and stop first.

Common mistakes

• Taking a hands-free call on a provisional license. The under-18 ban covers hands-free devices.
• Typing a new destination at a red light. Pull over and park instead.
• Letting a passenger under 17 ride unbelted. The driver gets the ticket.
• Moving a child out of a booster seat too early. Under 8, they stay in one unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

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

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

Go deeper

• Texas Texting and Driving Law
• Texas Permit Practice Test
• How to Pass the Texas Parallel Parking Test