Maryland's law does not state a child can't ride in the front seat (except for rear-facing infants in a car with active airbags, this is against instructions, very dangerous and illegal), however, it is strongly recommended by all safety experts that children ride in the back seat until they are teenagers. Age 12 and under should ride in the back seat. Children are 40% less likely to be seriously injured or killed in the back seat than the front seat. Remember, the Maryland law states that children must ride in a child restraint system until they are at least eight years old, unless they are over four feet nine inches tall.