Missouri’s Booster Seat Law
(RSMo 307.178 & 307.182)

Missouri’s booster seat law, effective August 2006, requires children who have outgrown a child safety seat to be secured in a booster seat while traveling in a motor vehicle. The fine for violating this law is $50.00 plus court costs, which far exceeds the cost of many booster seats. Missouri law now requires:

• Children less than 4 years old or less than 40 pounds to be in an appropriate child safety seat;
• Children 4 years and older to be secured in a booster seat until they turn 8 years old, unless they reach 80 pounds or 4’9” tall before that birthday; and
• Children weighing more than 80 pounds or taller than 4’9” are required to be secured by a vehicle safety belt or booster seat appropriate for that child.