The Car Seat Rules

In Maryland, a person transporting a child under the age of 8 years secures the child in a child safety seat, following the seat and vehicle manufacturers' instructions, unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches tall or taller. A child under the age of 2 years rides in a rear facing seat until reaching the seat maker's weight or height limit. No child under the age of 16 years may be transported unless secured in a child safety seat or a seat belt.

• Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2

• A conviction carries a fine of $50, and a forward facing seat for a child under 2 draws a written warning for a first violation.
• A judge may waive the fine if the person had no seat, acquired one before the hearing, and proves it to the court.
• More than one unsecured child in the same vehicle at the same time is a single violation.
• A physician's written certification that a seat is impractical for a particular child means there is no violation of the car seat rule.
• A seat or belt may restrain only one person at a time.
• A violation is not contributory negligence, is not admissible in a civil trial, and is not a moving violation for points.

• Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2