speedy day drive on car
Keeping Children Safe and Traffic Citations
If you regularly drive with a child in your vehicle, or if you are planning to install a child safety seat to transport a friend or family member’s child, it is important to understand how laws in Kansas City, Missouri work when it comes to child safety seats. You can be cited for a violation if you do not have an appropriate child safety seat in your vehicle, or if a child is not using a seat belt appropriately. It is important to understand the recommendations for child safety seats and to use the appropriate form of safety restraint for the child’s weight and age.
Child Safety Recommendations in Vehicles
Anyone in Kansas City, Missouri should know the child passenger protection laws if they are going to drive with a child in their vehicle. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) provides information about appropriate child safety seats and restraints:
- Children under the age of 13 should be secured in the rear car seat;
- Rear-facing seats should be used for children up to 20 pounds (or according to the manufacturer recommendation), and they should be installed in the rear seat of the vehicle;
- Forward-facing child safety seats can be used for children up to 40 pounds (or according to the manufacturer recommendation), and they should be secured in the rear seat of the vehicle;
- Forward-facing booster seats can be used for children who have outgrown a child safety seat but are under the age of 8 or under 80 pounds;
- Lap and shoulder belts can be used safely by children aged 8 or older or weighing 80 pounds or more.
Child Passenger Protection Laws in Missouri
Of the recommendations above, what does Missouri law require? The MSHP lists the following laws for anyone driving in Kansas City, Missouri:
Children under the age of 4, regardless of their weight, must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system;
Children who weigh less than 40 pounds, regardless of their age, must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system;
Children who are between the ages of 4 and 7 who weigh more than 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds and who are under 4’9” tall must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat—kids in this size and age range cannot ride in a vehicle without any type of child safety or booster seat; and
Children who weigh more than 80 pounds or are taller than 4’9” must be secured by a booster seat or the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt—kids in this size range can safely ride in a vehicle without a safety seat.
Contact a Kansas City Traffic Lawyer
Nobody wants to receive a traffic ticket, even if the financial penalty is relatively minor. Over time, a variety of seemingly minor infractions can result in points on your driver’s license. As you may know, if you accumulate eight points or more in an 18-month period, the Missouri Department of Revenue will suspend your driving privileges. The length of the suspension depends upon whether it is a first or subsequent suspension for you, as well the total number of points accumulated.
Even minor infractions can add up, but you may be able to beat a ticket with help from a Kansas City traffic ticket lawyer. Contact Aimee the Attorney for more information about working with an experienced traffic defense lawyer.
