Now Britney is really on the hot seat

Britney Spears (above) was “irresponsible” for driving with her baby on her lap, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said Monday as he announced a new initiative to improve child car-seat safety.

Mineta said photos last week of Spears in her SUV with 4-month-old Sean Preston perched in her lap were “troubling.”

“And while Ms. Spears has acknowledged her mistake, her actions still send the wrong message to millions of her fans,” Mineta said.

Spears said she acted instinctively when frightened by photographers.

“No matter who you are, there’s absolutely no excuse for this display – not instinct, not fear, not even reckless paparazzi,” Mineta said. “It’s irresponsible to compromise the safety of a child for the sake of the moment.”

He announced $25 million in new federal funding over the next four years to states that pass and enforce new or tougher booster-seat laws. Sixteen states do not currently have such measures on the books.