Better Safe Than Sorry Reporting Line

Injury is the leading cause of accidental death and hospitalization in Washington for persons up to age 44. Car crashes are responsible for the accidental death and injury of more children over age one than from any other cause.

Washington, like all 50 states has a law requiring that everyone be properly buckled up on every trip and requiring the driver to assure that all child passengers are properly restrained in the car. If you are seen with improperly restrained children, you can be stopped and given a ticket for EACH unbuckled child or IMPROPERLY restrained child under the age of sixteen.

Many times we may observe unrestrained children held on the lap of a passenger, crawling around in the car, turned backwards waving at us or playing in the cargo area of a station wagon, SUV or van. Because these children are at great risk of injury from a car crash, Washington State residents may call the "Better Safe Than Sorry Reporting Line" or enter the information online.

PLEASE NOTE: This for is for incidents that occured in Washington state only.

Report a Vehicle with an Unbuckled Child by phone (click here)

Report a Vehicle with an Unbuckled Child on line (click here)

What happens When You Report a Vehicle to the Better Safe Than Sorry Program?

  • The registered owner of the vehicles reported to the Better Safe Than Sorry program receive a reminder letter from the Washington State Patrol along with educational information on the law and the proper ways to protect children in the car.

Will The Person I Report Get a Ticket?

  • No, the vehicles reported to the Better Safe Than Sorry Program will not receive a ticket. This program is designed to educate, not issue tickets.

Will the information be available to their employer or end up in their driving record?

  • No. Information obtained from this program will not be available to the registered owner's insurance company or employer. This information DOES NOT become part of the individual driver's file.

Who operates this program?

  • Better Safe Than Sorry is a cooperative program of the Washington State Patrol, Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Safety Restraint Coalition.

Where can I get information to give to others to let them know about this program?

  • Click here to download, print, and share a poster and/or a bookmark that explains how to report unbuckled children and what information is needed for the report. Quantities of these bookmarks or 8 1/2 x 11 posters about the program may be obtained free of charge for distribution within Washington State. WE ARE SORRY, but THESE MATERIALS MAY ONLY BE MAILED TO RESIDENTS OF WASHINGTON STATE. To order, call (425) 828-8975 or within Washington State 1-800-282-5587 or email us at: info@800bucklup.org