Maryland car seat laws require every child under eight to ride in a child safety seat, with children under two in a rear-facing seat, unless the child has already reached 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children between 8 and 15 must be secured in either a child safety seat or a seat belt. The driver is the one who gets ticketed if a child passenger is not properly restrained, and the rules apply to any vehicle on Maryland roads, including cars registered in other states.1Maryland Department of Health. Kids In Safety Seats – Maryland Law
Age and Height Thresholds
For any child under eight who is shorter than 4 feet 9 inches, Maryland requires a child safety seat installed according to both the seat manufacturer’s and the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats A child under eight who has already reached 4 feet 9 inches can legally use a standard seat belt instead.
Many parents assume the law lets up at age eight. It doesn’t. Children ages 8 through 15 must be secured by either a car seat or a seat belt every time they ride, and the driver can be cited if any child in that range is unbelted.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats
If you’re deciding whether a child who hits the 4-foot-9 mark is really ready for the belt alone, check the fit: the lap belt should sit flat across the upper thighs rather than the stomach, the shoulder belt should cross the chest and shoulder without cutting into the neck, the child’s back should rest against the vehicle seat, and the knees should bend naturally at the seat edge with feet on the floor. If any of that fails, a booster still fits better.
Rear-Facing Rule for Children Under Two
Since October 2022, Maryland has required every child under two to ride in a rear-facing child safety seat.1Maryland Department of Health. Kids In Safety Seats – Maryland Law The statute has one built-in exception. If a child outgrows the rear-facing seat’s weight or height limit before turning two, the child can move to a forward-facing seat with a harness.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats Those limits are printed on the seat’s label or spelled out in the manual. The manufacturer’s numbers control, not the child’s birthday.
Enforcement for this rule is softer the first time around. A first violation of the rear-facing requirement draws a written warning rather than a fine.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats A second violation carries the standard $50 penalty.
Where the Car Seat Can Go
Maryland does not flatly ban children from the front seat. The one hard prohibition is placing a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger position when the vehicle has an active airbag on that side.1Maryland Department of Health. Kids In Safety Seats – Maryland Law A deploying airbag can strike a rear-facing seat with enough force to kill an infant. If the vehicle has no way to deactivate the front passenger airbag, a rear-facing seat cannot legally go there.
Forward-facing seats and boosters aren’t prohibited up front by statute, but federal guidance from NHTSA is to keep children in the back seat through at least age 12. The rear seat sits farther from the most common crash impact zones, and front airbag deployment can injure older kids too.
Taxis and Rideshare
Maryland treats these two differently, and the difference matters if you ever travel without your own vehicle. Taxis are exempt from the child passenger safety law, so a cab driver cannot be cited for carrying a child without a car seat.1Maryland Department of Health. Kids In Safety Seats – Maryland Law Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are not exempt. If you request a ride through one of those platforms with a child under 16, you need a properly installed car seat or, where age allows, a seat belt, same as in your own car.
The physics in a crash don’t change inside a taxi. Bringing a portable car seat along is the safer call when you know you’ll be riding in one.
Fines and How to Get One Waived
A child safety seat violation carries a $50 fine, and with court costs the total runs around $83.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats This is a primary offense, meaning an officer can pull you over solely for observing a car seat violation. No other traffic infraction is needed.
The citation does not add points to your driving record. The statute explicitly classifies it as a non-moving violation.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats Insurance companies can still see the citation, and some raise premiums for any traffic conviction.
A judge can waive the fine entirely if three things are true: you did not have a child safety seat at the time of the stop, you purchased one before your court date, and you bring proof of purchase to the hearing.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 22-412.2 – Child Safety Seats
Free Installation Help From the KISS Program
Maryland’s Department of Health runs the Kids In Safety Seats program, which offers free help to any parent or caregiver in the state. Services include in-person checkup events at rotating locations, video appointments over Zoom, and a toll-free helpline at 1-800-370-SEAT (7328), available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.3Maryland Department of Health. Kids In Safety Seats (KISS) Program The program also helps families who cannot afford a car seat obtain one.
Roughly three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly, so having a certified technician look at your work is worth the time even when you feel sure about the install.