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The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has safety laws and guidelines in place to keep drivers and pedestrians safe on the road. Safety laws cover everything from child car seats, seat belts, drunk driving, and helmets.

Make sure you follow the rules to keep yourself and others safe, and avoid receiving a fine, license suspension, or even jail time.

It is also important to know that, if you receive a citation, additional county penalties may be added on top of state fines. Check with your county clerk for additional fines and fees.

It is the responsibility of the supervising adult to ensure that any child under 7 years old is seated in a federally-approved child car seat. Failure to do so could result in a $60 fine and 3 points against your driver's license.

Florida law states:

• Children 7 years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system.
• Children 3 years old and younger must use a separate car-seat or the vehicle's built-in child seat.
• Children 4 to 7 years old and less than 4 ft 9 inches tall, must sit in either a separate car seat or a built in child seat.

Use the following car seat guidelines from the FLHSMV while driving with a child in your vehicle.

• Birth a€“ 1 year old and at least 20 lbs.
  • Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat of the car.
• 1 year old and 20 lbs. – 4 years old and 40 lbs.
  • Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat until they outgrow the weight and height limit of the child car seat.
  • Normally when children are over 1 year old and weigh over 20 pounds, you can switch to a forward-facing car seat in the back of the car.
• 4 years old and 40 lbs. – 8 years old or 4'9" tall
  • Use a forward-facing child seat in the back seat until they reach the weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Switch to a booster seat in the back of the car.
• 8 years old or 4'9" tall – 12 years old
  • Use a booster seat in the back seat until your child is big enough to use the car's seat belt. The minimum age to use a regular seat belt is 5 years old and must meet these requirements:
    • Child is at least 4 ft 9 inches tall.
    • The child's knees bend over the seat edge when they are sitting with their back against the seat.
    • The shoulder portion of the seat belt does not go over their neck; it lays across their chest.
    • The belt portion goes over the thighs and not across the stomach.
    • At 13 years old, your child can sit in the front seat of your car.
  For more information, please check out the Florida HSMV's safety brochure on child safety seats. Never put your child in a child car seat in the front of a vehicle with a passenger air bag. It is always safest for your child to ride in the back seat. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires you to wear a seat belt while in an operating vehicle if you are:
  • The driver of the vehicle.
  • A front seat passenger of any age.
  • Under 18 years old.
  Failure to wear a seat belt could result in a fine of $30 plus any other associated legal fees and additional fees. You do not need to wear a seat belt if you:
  • Have a medical condition preventing the use of a seat belt due to safety hazards.
  • Are delivering newspapers as part of a home delivery service.
  • Are working in a waste and recyclables collection service.

  As of October 1, it is now illegal to text while driving. This applies to all drivers, regardless of age. There are no talking bans on cell phones while driving.

  
  
  
  
  

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