front seat age help

[C-dub]

Hey everyone.

I've been looking for the past hour on this forum and the rest of the internet and can't find anything helpful. I'm having a discussion with a friend regarding two things. The first, I hope I have resolved. TRC 545.412, states that a child under 8y must be in some kind of booster seat or full child seat unless they are at least 4'9" tall.

However, she also contends that a child is not allowed to ride in the front seat unless they are 12 years old. This is the one I can't find anything on. Can anyone help with a code or link?


C-dub

[Carry-a-Kimber]

This is not true, otherwise people with single cab trucks would not be allowed to take their children anywhere.

[OldCannon]

She can contend to her heart's content, but:

TRC § 545.412. CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEATSYSTEMS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than eight years of age, unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches, and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the safety seat system.

However, there is absolutely no law in Texas regarding whether a child of any age must be in the front or back. Car manufacturers and most safety organizations, however, recommend kids under 13 ride in the back.

[C-dub]

This is not true, otherwise people with single cab trucks would not be allowed to take their children anywhere.

I don't think it is true either, but as we all know, it is difficult to convince someone of something like this when you can't show them something that says they can do it. Regarding folks with single cab trucks, if it were illegal I'm certain there would be an exception in that case. Just like the following: it is illegal to transport any under 18y in the open bed of a pick-up truck. However, there are several exceptions and one of those is that it is the family's only vehicle. It doesn't say that the cab must already be full, but I'm sure that must be a factor. I could be wrong.

[C-dub]

I also found this on the DPS website.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_s ... 090705.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Although there is no law that prevents youngsters from sitting in the front seat of a vehicle, the safest place for a child in a car is in a rear seat, properly buckled into a child safety seat or a booster seat.

Air bags don't replace child safety seats and may increase the risk of serious injury to children. Children younger than 13 should never ride in the front seats of vehicles with active passenger air bags.

With the ability to disarm many airbag systems for the front passenger and that many of them are not even armed unless there is more than 90 pounds in the seat this sort of takes care of itself most of the time. This page is a little old and may be totally obsolete because the 5y age mentioned on it has been changed to 8y.