Seat Belts and Car Seats
IC 9-19-10-2 — every occupant belted while the vehicle moves forward; a child under 8 in a child restraint
Each occupant of a motor vehicle with factory installed safety belts meeting the federal standard has a belt properly fastened at all times while the vehicle is moving forward. An occupant at least sixteen who is not belted commits a Class D infraction, and the bureau assesses no points for it.
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
| Child in the vehicle | What the driver is answerable for |
|---|---|
| Child in the vehicleLess than 8 years old | What the driver is answerable forProperly fastened in a child restraint system, by the manufacturer's instructions; a Class D infraction if not |
| Child in the vehicleAt least 8 but less than 16 | What the driver is answerable forProperly fastened in a child restraint system or a safety belt; a Class D infraction if not |
A vehicle may be stopped to check belt use, but the vehicle, its contents, the driver and the passengers may not be inspected, searched or detained solely because of a belt violation, and no law enforcement agency may use a safety belt checkpoint to detect and ticket it.
A driver is not found to have broken the child restraint rule by carrying, and presenting to the officer or court, a certificate from a physician, physician's assistant or advanced practice registered nurse that a restraint is impractical because of the child's physical or medical condition.
Sources for this section (5)
- IC 9-19-10-2 — Use of safety belt by motor vehicle occupants; safety belt standards
- IC 9-19-10-8 — Failure of front seat occupant to use belt; violation; classification; assessment of points
- IC 9-19-11-2 — Child less than eight years of age; child restraint system; penalty; medical exceptions; child restraint system account
- IC 9-19-11-3.6 — Safety belt standards; child between eight and 16 years of age; child restraint system or safety belt
- IC 9-19-10-3.1 — Stopping, inspecting, or detaining vehicle; checkpoints
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.