Our sources & method

Every fact on SeatChecker is verified through a strict source ladder, in order:

1. Official source first. The state statute, the state highway patrol or DOT page, or the bill text for an upcoming change.
2. Primary state pages. When a statute is hard to read, the state's own published guidance, cross-checked against the statute.
3. AAP for recommendations. Safety best practices come from the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren guidance, kept separate from the legal minimum.

Each state page lists its sources with the date we last verified them. Statute URLs change often, so we re-check them on a regular cadence and after every legislative session.