In a photo snapped by a traffic officer, the gas can is seen strapped in the child safety seat in the back seat of a vehicle.

The photo also shows a child in a diaper in the back seat wearing a lap belt. The shoulder strap can be seen behind the child's back.

The photo was initially posted on the Colorado Department of Transportation's Facebook page.

"It is a legitimate picture, it is not staged," said Aurora Police Lieutenant Chuck Deshazer. "One of my traffic officers took the picture on a stop while conducting click it or ticket seatbelt campaign enforcement last week."

Colorado law requires all children under age eight to be in a child safety seat when traveling in a motor vehicle. The law stipulates a minimum fine of $82 per violation.

Aurora Police said the driver in this case was written three restraint violations.

Police said the driver told officers the child lets himself out of the car seat. The officer then asked if the child put the gas can in the car seat and buckled it up, then buckled himself into a seatbelt on the other side of the car.