The Car Seat Rules
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.179 — by age, by weight and by height, for every child under sixteen
In Missouri, every driver transporting a child under the age of sixteen years is responsible for the child's protection by age, weight and height.
| The child | What the section requires |
|---|---|
| The childLess than four years of age, regardless of weight | What the section requiresA child passenger restraint system |
| The childLess than forty pounds, regardless of age | What the section requiresA child passenger restraint system |
| The childAt least four but less than eight, forty to eighty pounds, and less than four feet, nine inches | What the section requiresA restraint system or booster seat |
| The childAt least eighty pounds or more than four feet, nine inches | What the section requiresA safety belt or booster seat |
- A violation of the first three rows is an infraction with a fine of not more than fifty dollars and court costs.
- That charge is dismissed or withdrawn if the driver shows, before or at the hearing, that a restraint or booster has since been acquired.
- A child who would need a booster may ride in a back seat with only a lap belt if that seat has no lap and shoulder belt.
- The section does not apply to public carriers for hire, or to students four or older on a school bus.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.179 — Passenger restraint system required for children
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.