AAA East Central has provided tips to prevent dangers for anyone who plans on purchasing a real Christmas tree to take home in the coming weeks.

The agency said that loose trees can present dangers to motorists and even expenses to owners. previous AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research suggests that more than 200,000 crashes involved debris on U.S. roads over a four-year period, resulting in 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths. This inherently can violate a law that all 50 states adopted which makes it illegal for items to fall from a vehicle on the road. The penalties for this violation comes in the form of fines ranging from $10 to $5,000. Sixteen states have listed jail as a possible penalty.

AAA recommends several tips for properly securing a tree. Those who purchase a real tree should use a vehicle equipped with a roof rack. Try securing the tree in the bed of a truck, SUV, van or minivan if the vehicle does not have a roof rack. Make sure that the tree can fit with all doors and trunk closed. Be careful to check that the tree is secured in netting before unloading.

Another safety measure is to take back roads home after purchasing a tree.

A real tree can add that special touch to your home's holiday decor, but motorists need to use caution when transporting a live tree," said Lori Cook, safety advisor, AAA East Central. "Negligence could mean you are putting other lives at risk and you could be setting yourself up for costly repairs to your own vehicle."

Improperly secured trees can cost motorists as much as $1,500 in repairs.