Because the US constitution generally allows states to regulate their internal affairs driving laws vary from state to state. Sure stopping for red lights, driving on the right side of the road, and other basics are the same. However speed limits, school bus rules, use of studded snow tires, and other things do vary. Some of that makes sense. Use of studded snow tires in Vermont with its combination of mountains and a five month winter makes sense even if they’re hard on roads, in Florida not so much. The same with the generally higher speed limits in the wide open western states versus the slower limits in crowded metro areas.
Serious Driving Offenses
Penalties for breaking driving laws also varying greatly from state to state. While states may disagree on what to call it (Driving Under the Influence, Driving While Intoxicated, or even Operating Under the Influence) all states agree that driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above .08 percent is a crime. All states have provisions for ignition locking devices. Some require them after a single offense and others only for multiple offenses or at the court’s discretion. All but two of the states have heightened penalties for extremely high BACs. However those punishments and the triggering levels are very different. Here’s a link to the specifics for each state from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association.
Moving from the very serious to the absurd, which in all honesty is much closer to this blog’s comfort zone, we have today’s featured map. Courtesy of The Hartford insurance company here are the most bizarre driving laws in each state.
In
I’m not sure bizarre is a strong enough description for some of these laws. In Massachusetts it’s illegal to drive with a gorilla in the back seat of your car. Apparently the front seat is okay. For you female readers watch out when you’re in Louisiana. Women may legally drive in the Pelican State, but only if they have a man in front of the car with a warning flag.
Please feel free to share your favorite and if possible why you think it was written in the first place in the comment section.
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
PS For those of you with sharp eyes, you’ll note that Delaware and Maryland are transposed, but I believe their laws are correct.
Very interesting. Makes flying seem like a better choice.
I don’t know, those pat-downs can be a challenge for some.