Question about child seat in taxi? (Houston: fit in, transporting, home)

[tmc300]

Hi, we will fly to Houston with our two young kids. After arriving at the Houston airport, we plan to take a taxi from the airport to our house. According to the driving law, our kids need to sit in child seat when riding the car. Do you know if the taxi can supply two child seats? Seems very unlikely to me that the taxi will have child seats available right on the spot.
If the taxi has no child seat, is it against the law to ride the taxi without child seat for our kids?

We are wondering how to get home from the airport with our two kids since the law requires child seat?

Does anyone have any suggestions or solutions? Thank you.

[fnh]

Kids can legally ride in a taxi or bus without a car seat.

[tmc300]

That's great news. Problem solved.
I thought young kids need to sit in child seat in any kind of car. So, the child seat only applies to private cars, right.

[fnh]

Yes and even then there are allowances for available spaces. The airlines will check child seats for free so you can have them available when you arrive if you like, but then depending on the number in your party you may not all fit in a taxi with the car seats unless you find a minivan.

[Proud2bPinoy]

Originally Posted by tmc300

That's great news. Problem solved.
I thought young kids need to sit in child seat in any kind of car. So, the child seat only applies to private cars, right.

i think this varies from state to state. i was in atlantic city new jersey and taxis are strict with this.

[Sampaguita]

I would check your car seats at the airport. Will they not be in car seats for the trip TO the airport?

An old thread addresses this, too:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/houst...ats-taxis.html

I guess what it comes down to for me is would I ever drive around Houston (or any other city) without my children being properly restrained? My answer is no - I would not take that risk and certainly not in a cab. Yes - a PITA but I'd rather be inconvenienced than have to deal with something much worse. Just my opinion, of course.

fnh - do you have a link to support that here in Houston? I've looked before but can't seem to find anything concrete.

[fnh]

Here is the relevant section from the Texas Penal Code:

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 [five] years of age, unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches [and less than 36 inches in height], 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.
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not [less than $100 or] more than $25 for the first offense and not more than $250 for a sec*ond or subsequent offense [$200].
(b-1) In addition to all other fees and court costs, a per*son shall pay 15 cents as a court cost on conviction of an offense under this section. Court costs due under this section shall be collected in the same manner as other fees, fines, or costs are collected in the case. The clerk at least monthly shall send the court costs collected under this section to the comptroller for deposit in a separate ac*count in the general revenue fund that may be appropri*ated only to the Texas Department of Transportation and used to purchase child passenger safety seat systems and distribute them to low-income families.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person was operating the vehicle in an emergency or for a law enforcement purpose.
(d) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 8.01
(e) This section does not apply to a person:

(1) operating a vehicle transporting passengers for hire, excluding [including] third-party transport service providers when transporting clients pursuant to a contract to provide nonemergency Medicaid transportation; or
(2) transporting a child in a vehicle in which all seat*ing positions equipped with child passenger safety seat systems or safety belts are occupied.

[crone]

Did exception 2 say what I think it said. If I run out of child safety seats, i can just put the kid on my lap.

[Sampaguita]

Originally Posted by crone

Did exception 2 say what I think it said. If I run out of child safety seats, i can just put the kid on my lap.

Sure seems to read that way.

[fnh]

Yes, in legalese "it is a defense to prosecution if"... well I simply ran out of spaces. ;-)

Really, though, I think the law has to be crafted as such because while you want to 'encourage' car seats and promote their use, you can't make them mandatory in every possible situation.