Car Seat Law Fines by State
What a car seat ticket costs in each state, and whether proof of a proper seat cancels it.
| State | First offense | Repeat offense | License points | Fine waiver | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25 | $25 | 1 point for a first offense; 2 points for a second or subsequent offense | The trial judge may dismiss the charge, with no court costs, on proof of acquisition of an appropriate child passenger restraint (§ 32-5-222(d)). | Ala. Code § 32-5-222checked September 23, 2026 |
| Alaska | Up to $50 | Up to $50 | Demerit points as set by department regulation | A driver who failed to provide a child safety device or safety belt may show a peace officer proof of purchase or acquisition and installation of an approved device within 30 days of the citation; the court then dismisses the citation and assesses no points, unless the person has a prior conviction, has forfeited bail on a prior citation, or has used this proof before (AS 28.05.099(b)). | Alaska Stat. § 28.05.099checked September 23, 2026 |
| Arizona | $50 | $50 | None | A civil penalty is not imposed if the person makes a sufficient showing that the vehicle has since been equipped with a child restraint system meeting the standards in § 28-907(C); a receipt mailed to the court officer evidencing purchase or acquisition may be enough (§ 28-907(D)). | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-907checked September 23, 2026 |
| Arkansas | $25 – $100 | $25 – $100 | 0 points | On proof that the defendant has acquired, purchased or rented an approved child passenger safety seat, the court shall assess no more than the minimum fine (§ 27-34-103(c)). | Ark. Code Ann. § 27-34-103checked September 23, 2026 |
| California | $100 | $250 | 1 point | The court may reduce or waive the fine if the defendant shows economic disadvantage and completes a community child passenger restraint education program instead; the conviction is still reported to the DMV (§ 27360.6(a)-(b)). | Cal. Veh. Code § 27360.6checked September 23, 2026 |
| Colorado | $65 | $65 | None | The fine may be waived if the defendant presents the court with satisfactory evidence of the acquisition, purchase or rental of a child restraint system by the time of the court appearance (§ 42-4-236(8)). | C.R.S. §§ 42-4-236, 42-4-1701, 42-2-127checked September 23, 2026 |
| Connecticut | $50 – $90 | Up to $199 | At least 2 points on conviction | The court may remit the fine for a first-time violator who shows proof of acquiring, renting or buying an appropriate child restraint system or booster seat within 14 days of the violation (§ 14-100a(d)(5)). | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-100achecked September 23, 2026 |
| Delaware | $0 | $25 | None | Not addressed in statute | 21 Del. C. § 4803checked September 23, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | $75 | $75 – $150 | 2 points | The fine for a first violation of § 50-1703(a) is waived on proof that an approved child restraint seat was acquired after the violation, by purchase, gift or a loan program (§ 50-1706(b)). | D.C. Code § 50-1706checked September 23, 2026 |
| Florida | $60 | $60 | 3 points | With the court's approval, the person may complete an approved child restraint safety program instead; the court may then waive the penalty and costs, and the points are waived (§ 316.613(5)). | Fla. Stat. § 316.613checked September 23, 2026 |
| Georgia | Up to $50 | Up to $100 | 1 point for a first offense; 2 points for a second or subsequent offense | Not addressed in statute | O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76 (official Code of Georgia, LexisNexis public access)checked September 23, 2026 |
| Hawaii | Up to $100 | $250 – $500 | None | Not addressed in statute | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-11.5checked September 23, 2026 |
| Idaho | Up to $300 | Up to $300 | 3 points | Not addressed in statute | Idaho Code § 49-672checked September 23, 2026 |
| Illinois | $75 | $200 | None | A person charged under Section 4 is not convicted if they produce in court evidence of possessing an approved child restraint system and proof of completing a child passenger safety instructional course (Sec. 6(b) and Sec. 6a of 625 ILCS 25). This does not apply to a second or subsequent violation (Sec. 6(d) of 625 ILCS 25). | 625 ILCS 25, Child Passenger Protection Actchecked September 23, 2026 |
| Indiana | Up to $25 | Up to $25 | None | A person with no previous judgment under the chapter who possesses or acquires a child restraint system (within 30 days if the court orders proof) is not liable for costs or a monetary judgment (IC 9-19-11-5, 9-19-11-6). This applies to section 2 violations. | Ind. Code 9-19-11checked September 23, 2026 |
| Iowa | $135 | $135 | None | A person first charged under subsection 1 who had not acquired a child restraint system is not convicted if, within a reasonable time, they produce in court proof of having purchased or otherwise acquired one that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards (§ 321.446(5)). | Iowa Code § 321.446checked September 23, 2026 |
| Kansas | $60 | $60 | None | The $60 fine is waived if the driver convicted of violating K.S.A. 8-1344(a)(1) or (2) proves to the court that an appropriate and approved child passenger safety restraining system was purchased or acquired; the officer must give notice of the waiver when issuing the citation (K.S.A. 8-1345(b)). A driver is not convicted at all on proof that the child was 14 or older (K.S.A. 8-1345(c)). | K.S.A. 8-1345checked September 23, 2026 |
| Kentucky | $30 – $50 | $30 – $50 | None | A person not previously charged with a booster violation may acquire a booster seat; on proof of acquisition the booster charge is dismissed with no fees or costs (KRS 189.990(25)). There is no waiver for the child restraint rule in KRS 189.125(3)(a). | KRS 189.990checked September 23, 2026 |
| Louisiana | $100 | $250 – $500 | None; the violation is not a moving violation | Not addressed in statute | La. R.S. 32:295checked September 23, 2026 |
| Maine | $50 | $125 – $250 | None listed | No. A fine imposed under § 2081(2-A), (2-B) or (3) may not be suspended by the court. | 29-A M.R.S. § 2081checked September 23, 2026 |
| Maryland | $50 | $50 | No points | A judge may waive the fine if the person did not have a child safety seat at the time, acquires one before the hearing date, and gives the court proof (§ 22-412.2(k)(2)). | Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2checked September 23, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Up to $25 | Up to $25 | Not a moving violation for insurance surcharges | Not addressed in statute | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7AAchecked September 23, 2026 |
| Michigan | Up to $10 | Up to $10 | None | The court may waive the fine, costs and assessment if, before the appearance date, the driver shows evidence of acquiring a compliant child seating system and of receiving education from a certified child passenger safety technician (MCL 257.907(11), as amended by 2024 PA 22). | MCL 257.710dchecked September 23, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Up to $50 | Up to $50 | None | The fine may be waived or reduced if the driver shows that within 14 days after the violation a child passenger restraint system meeting federal standards was purchased or obtained for the driver's exclusive use (§ 169.685, subd. 5(a)). A charge is also dismissed on producing the physician's statement described in subd. 6(b). | Minn. Stat. § 169.685checked September 23, 2026 |
| Mississippi | Up to $25 | Up to $25 | None | Not addressed in statute | Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-309checked September 23, 2026 |
| Missouri | Up to $50 | Up to $50 | None | If the driver provides evidence of acquiring a child passenger restraint system or child booster seat before or at the hearing, a citation under subsection 2(1), (2) or (3) is dismissed or withdrawn (§ 307.179.3). | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.179checked September 23, 2026 |
| Montana | Up to $100 | Up to $100 | 2 points | The fine must be waived if proof of acquiring an appropriate child safety restraint is presented within 7 days of the violation to the charging officer's office and no previous violation has been dismissed this way (MCA § 61-9-423(2)). | Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-423checked September 23, 2026 |
| Nebraska | $25 | $25 | 1 point | Not addressed in statute | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,268checked September 23, 2026 |
| Nevada | $100 – $500 | $500 – $1,000 | None | If within 60 days after sentencing the person shows the court proof of completing an approved child restraint training program, the court waives a first-offense fine or community service, or halves a second-offense fine or community service; a person who has already had a waiver is not eligible for the reduction (NRS 484B.157(3)). | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 484B.157checked September 23, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | $50 | $100 | None | Not addressed in statute | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265:107-achecked September 23, 2026 |
| New Jersey | $50 – $75 | $50 – $75 | None listed | Not addressed in statute | N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2d (N.J. Legislative Statutes)checked September 23, 2026 |
| New Mexico | $25 – $300 | $25 – $300 | 2 points | Not addressed in statute | N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 66-7-369, 66-8-116checked September 23, 2026 |
| New York | $25 – $100 | $25 – $100 | 3 points | The court waives the fine for a violation involving a passenger under eight if the driver proves purchase or rental of a compliant child restraint between the charge and the appearance date; not available for a second or subsequent conviction (VTL § 1229-c(6)). | N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1229-cchecked September 23, 2026 |
| North Carolina | Up to $25 | Up to $25 | 2 driver license points | A driver charged for not properly securing a child under eight is not convicted if he shows the court at trial that he has since acquired an approved child passenger restraint system for the vehicle in which the child is normally transported (§ 20-137.1(c)). | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-137.1checked September 23, 2026 |
| North Dakota | $25 | $25 | 1 point | Not addressed in statute | N.D.C.C. § 39-21-41.2checked September 23, 2026 |
| Ohio | $25 – $75 | Up to $250 | 2 points | Not addressed in statute | Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.81checked September 23, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | $50 | $50 | None | For a first offense the fine is suspended and court costs are capped at $15 on proof of purchasing or borrowing a child passenger restraint system (47 O.S. § 11-1112(F)). | 47 O.S. § 11-1112checked September 23, 2026 |
| Oregon | $65 – $250 | $65 – $250 | None | Not addressed in statute | Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210checked September 23, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | $75 | $75 | None | The judge dismisses the charges if, before or at the hearing, the person shows evidence of acquiring a child passenger restraint system or booster seat (purchase, rental, transfer or loaner-program receipt) (§ 4581(c)). | 75 Pa.C.S. § 4581checked September 23, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | $100 | $100 | None | The police department voids the violation if the driver presents proof of purchase of an approved child restraint system within seven days (§ 31-22-22(c)(1)). | R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22checked September 23, 2026 |
| South Carolina | Up to $150 | Up to $150 | None | The court shall waive the fine if, before or on the appearance date, the person gives the court evidence of acquiring, buying or renting a child restraint system that meets the requirements (§ 56-5-6450). | S.C. Code §§ 56-5-6410 to 56-5-6470checked September 23, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Up to $25 | Up to $25 | Not addressed in statute | Not addressed in statute | SDCL 32-37-1checked September 23, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Up to $50 | Up to $50 | None | No dismissal on proof of buying a seat. For a first offense the court may require a child passenger safety class in addition to or instead of the penalty (§ 55-9-602(c)(2)). A charge may be dismissed on proof that a physician-prescribed special restraint was in use (§ 55-9-602(a)(4)(C)). | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 (Tennessee Code Unannotated, LexisNexis free public access)checked September 23, 2026 |
| Texas | $25 – $250 | $25 – $250 | None | It is a defense to prosecution if the driver had no seat in the vehicle at the time, was not cited for any other offense, was not in a collision, and later obtained an appropriate child passenger safety seat system for each child (§ 545.4121). | Tex. Transp. Code §§ 545.412, 545.4121checked September 23, 2026 |
| Utah | Up to $45 | Up to $45 | None | The court shall waive all of the fine for a first violation of the child restraint requirement if the person submits proof of acquisition, rental or purchase of a child restraint device (Utah Code § 41-6a-1805(1)(c)). | Utah Code § 41-6a-1805checked September 23, 2026 |
| Vermont | $25 | $50 – $100 | Not listed | Not addressed in statute | 23 V.S.A. § 1258checked September 23, 2026 |
| Virginia | $50 | Up to $500 | No points | The court may waive or suspend the penalty if the failure to comply was due to financial inability to acquire a child restraint system (§ 46.2-1098). There is no waiver on proof of a later-acquired seat. | Va. Code § 46.2-1098checked September 23, 2026 |
| Washington | Up to $250 | Up to $250 | None | The notice of infraction is dismissed if, within seven days, the driver shows proof of acquiring an approved child restraint system or booster seat and has not had a previous violation of this section dismissed (RCW 46.61.687(3)). | RCW 46.61.687checked September 23, 2026 |
| West Virginia | $10 – $20 | $10 – $20 | Not addressed in statute | Not addressed in statute | W. Va. Code § 17C-15-46checked September 23, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | $10 – $75 | $25 – $200 | None | For a child under four, no forfeiture may be assessed if the vehicle had no compliant child safety restraint system when the citation was issued, the person proves one was bought or leased and properly installed within 30 days, and the person has had no such citation in the previous three years (§ 347.50(3)(b)). | Wis. Stat. § 347.48checked September 23, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Up to $50 | Up to $100 | None | The court shall waive the first-offense fine on proof that the offender, after the offense, purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a conforming child safety restraint system (W.S. 31-5-1304(a)). | Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1304checked September 23, 2026 |
Numbers summarize each statute; the statute text on each state page is the law. This is a reference, not legal advice.