Seat Belts
Transp. Code 545.413 — 15 and older, every seat, and children under 17
A person at least 15 years of age riding in a passenger vehicle while it is being driven, in a seat equipped with a safety belt, commits an offense by not being secured by it, in any seat. A driver commits a separate offense by letting a child younger than 17, who is not required to be in a child safety seat, ride in a belted seat without being secured.
| The offense | The fine |
|---|---|
| The offenseA person 15 or older not wearing a belt | The fineNot less than $25 or more than $50 |
| The offenseA driver who lets an unbelted child younger than 17 ride | The fineNot less than $100 or more than $200 |
It is a defense that the person has a written statement from a licensed physician that for a medical reason the person should not wear a belt, or presents one to the court no later than the 10th day after the offense. The section also lists defenses for postal carriers, newspaper delivery, meter readers, certain farm vehicles and solid waste vehicles whose work means frequent getting in and out.
Sources for this section (1)
- Transp. Code 545.413 — Safety belts; offense
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.