Whether you're a first-time parent or you're an old pro at installing child safety seats, there's a good chance you have questions about Texas laws. Ensuring compliance with Texas child safety seat laws isn't something every parent should do, it's a legal requirement.

Potential penalties for not meeting the Lone Star state's child safety seat laws can range from fines up to $200 per incident. If you're like most parents, you probably have at least one or two questions. So, to help you stay compliant and ensure your child's safety in a motor vehicle, here's a look at some of the more frequently asked questions.

How Long Does My Child Need to Use a Safety Seat?

Texas law is fairly clear when it comes to how long a child is legally required to use a safety seat. All children under the age of 8 or shorter than 4'9" must use a child safety seat. There really aren't any exceptions.

However, this can also be confusing for parents. What about if your child is over the age of 8 but their height is only 4'6"? Are they still legally required to use a child safety seat? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Since your child is at least 8 years old, they can use the vehicle's safety belt system instead of a booster seat.

Before you ditch the car or booster seat on your child's eighth birthday, you may want to keep it around a little longer. There's a reason why most safety experts recommend using a safety seat until your child reaches the height recommendation. Your child's height can affect how safe they are if an accident occurs. The vehicle's seat belt system may not be enough to protect your child if an accident occurs.

Can I Install a Child Safety Seat in the Front Seat?

Surprisingly, Texas safety seat laws don't address where your child can legally ride in a vehicle. However, before you're tempted to install a safety seat up front you want to read the manufacturer's instructions. This is when Texas law is pretty clear.

The law states you must install the car seat according to the manufacturer's instructions. Since child safety seat manufacturers unanimously agree children in car seats should also sit in the back, you can't install one in the front seat. This is one of the few times when the law requires you to look to the safety seat manufacturers for guidance.

Something to consider if you still want to install a safety seat up front is your vehicle's airbags. Airbags deploy with amazing force, so just imagine the injuries this can cause to your child. A safety seat can't protect against airbag deployment injuries, even a rear-facing one.

So, what do child safety seat manufacturers have to say about installation?

• All rear-facing car seats must be installed in the back seat. If your vehicle allows you to turn off the airbags, you can install a rear-facing car seat in the front, but it's still not recommended.

• Even though Texas law does allow you to ditch the car seat after your child's 8th birthday, manufacturers recommend using one until your child turns 12.

Car seat manufacturers also recommend not allowing children under the age of 13 to ride in the front seat, even when they're using the vehicle's safety belt system.

Can a Safety Seat Be Reused After a Vehicle Accident?

If you're vehicle's involved in an accident with a safety seat buckled in, you may not need to throw it away. Once again, Texas law says to refer to the manufacturer's instructions. Yes, this can be a little unclear. Some manufacturers require parents to toss out safety seats after an accident, others don't address the concern.

So, what should parents do? A good place to turn for advice is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). You can find guidance on what to do what a safety seat after an accident. Parents can also find information on reusing car seats.

For example, your teenager has outgrown their safety seat, but your toddler is ready to move up from an infant seat. Most of the time, you can reuse a car seat from one child to another.

Are Any Vehicles Exempt from Texas Child Safety Seat Laws?

Some vehicles, even passenger ones, are exempt from Texas's child safety seat laws. The list is fairly short and includes most rideshare vehicles like taxis, shuttles, limousines, and public buses.

You may not need to lug a car seat with you if you're taking an Uber or using another rideshare platform. Basically, if the vehicle has a built-in seat belt system you can leave the car seat at home. However, your child must be buckled into the vehicle's seat belt system to be compliant with Texas law.

Do I Need to Use a Child Safety Seat in an RV?

According to Texas law, only passenger vehicles like cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs require the use of a child safety seat. Since an RV isn't classified as a passenger vehicle, you don't need to use a car seat, even if the child is under the age of 8.

However, this doesn't mean you want your toddler sitting in the front passenger seat. Accidents can occur and protection is limited in the front seat. If you're traveling in an RV with children, it's best to keep them towards the rear of the vehicle. If possible, everyone, regardless of their age, should wear their seat belts while the RV is in motion.

Do Daycare Owners Need to Use Safety Seats to Transport Children?

If the daycare is transporting children in a passenger vehicle, then you must use child safety seats for any passengers under 8 years of age. However, if you're using a vehicle like a shuttle bus, you can probably skip the car seat and use the built-in seat belt system.

Before you leave the car seats behind, check with your licensing agency. Your daycare license may require you to use child safety seats regardless of the type of vehicle.

Hopefully, the answers to these questions will make it a little easier for you to stay in compliance with Texas child safety seat laws.