Mark Anderson | January 5, 2026 | Car Accidents
An unbuckled seat belt is all it takes for a Texas officer to flip on the lights. Under Texas law, police don’t need a secondary reason to stop you—the seat belt violation itself justifies the traffic stop, the citation, and the fine that follows.
This makes Texas a primary enforcement state, one of the strictest approaches in the country. The legal penalty stings, but it’s nothing compared to what happens in a crash without restraints.
Ejections, spinal injuries, and fatalities spike dramatically when occupants skip the seat belt. Here’s more about how Texas seat belt laws work and why compliance is non-negotiable for your safety and everyone else in the vehicle.
Who Must Wear a Seat Belt in Texas
Texas seat belt requirements apply to drivers and passengers. All passengers must wear a seat belt or use a child safety restraint, regardless of where they sit in the vehicle. Children under eight or shorter than 4’9” must be in a child restraint seat.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), unrestrained passengers can become projectiles upon impact, causing injuries to themselves and other people in the vehicle.
Fines for Seat Belt Violations in Texas
The fines for violating Texas seat belt laws vary depending on who is unbuckled and their age:
- Adults not wearing a seat belt: $25 to $50 fine plus court costs
- Child not properly restrained: $100 to $200 fine plus court costs
- Child not in proper car seat: Up to $250 fine plus court costs
When court costs are added, the total amount can be significantly higher than the base fine. Multiple violations can be issued if more than one person in the vehicle is unbuckled. Repeat offenders may face higher fines, and violations can also affect your driving record and insurance rates over time.
Child Safety Seat Requirements in Texas
Texas has specific requirements for securing children in vehicles based on their age and size. According to Texas Transportation Code § 545.412, children must be secured as follows:
- Under age 8: Must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat system unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches
- Age 8 and older or taller than 4’9″: May use a regular seat belt
- All children under 13: Should ride in the back seat when possible for maximum safety, although this is not a legal requirement
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends rear-facing car seats for infants and toddlers under three years old. It is recommended to leave a child in the appropriate car seat or booster for their weight and height as long as possible.
Exemptions to Texas Seat Belt Laws
Texas law provides limited exemptions from seat belt requirements for certain situations, including:
- Medical exemptions: People with medical conditions that prevent safe use of a seat belt may apply for an exemption certificate from a licensed physician
- Postal workers: U.S. Postal Service employees delivering mail are exempt while performing their official duties
- Newspaper delivery: People delivering newspapers from their vehicles are exempt during active delivery routes
- Utility workers: Certain utility workers who frequently enter and exit their vehicles may be exempt during their service routes
- Farm vehicles: Occupants of farm vehicles being used for agricultural purposes on farm-to-market roads
These exemptions are narrow and specific. The vast majority of Texas drivers and passengers are required to wear seat belts at all times while the vehicle is in motion on public roadways.
Seat Belts Reduce Crash Injuries and Deaths
Seat belts are the single most effective safety device in vehicles. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45% and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. In pickup trucks, which are especially common in Texas, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60%.
The Click It or Ticket campaign, Texas’s seat belt enforcement program, has significantly increased seat belt use since its launch in 2002. TxDOT reports the campaign has saved more than 8,200 lives and prevented thousands of serious injuries since it began.
Despite these efforts, approximately 1,000 Texans die each year in crashes while not wearing seat belts, making up about a quarter of all traffic fatalities in the state.
Injured in a Car Accident in Texas?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Fort Worth, Dallas, or Austin, Texas, contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with our car accident lawyers. Whether or not seat belts were worn can affect your injury claim in various ways.
We can help you understand your legal options and pursue economic and non-economic compensation for your injuries and losses.
We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
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Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
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Anderson Injury Lawyers – Austin Office
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About the Author
Mark A. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Injury Lawyers and a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer—an honor held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys. He earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law and has spent more than 20 years helping injury victims across Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. Mark handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, product liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and more. Click here to view some of the successful case results Mark has achieved for his clients.
Location: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas
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