Traffic Court Forum: Traversing state lines — Unusual traffic laws across the nation
By Shannon L. Malone, Esq.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are preparing for one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. And while the joy of seeing loved ones is the main focus, let’s not forget that each time we cross state lines, we’re also entering a new legal landscape.
Known as the “Implied Consent Doctrine,” this concept means that by simply driving into another state, you agree to follow its rules of the road—even when they’re downright bizarre. To help make your road trip a little more entertaining (and legally compliant), I’ve gathered some of the most peculiar traffic laws from the continental U.S.
Northeast
• Maine: You are not permitted to park in front of Dunkin’ Donuts. Considering how serious residents of Maine are about their morning coffee, this law might just be about preserving access to their lifeline.
• New Hampshire: Do not stop in the middle of the road to let a moose pass; it is considered obstructive driving.
• Vermont: It is illegal to whistle underwater while driving (though one might wonder how that situation could arise).
• Massachusetts: Drivers cannot operate a car with a gorilla in the back seat. Indeed, you read that correctly…
• Rhode Island: If you find yourself in Providence at night, keep a bell handy—it is legally required for cars after dark.
Midwest
• Ohio: In Youngstown, running out of gas on the road is actually considered a misdemeanor!
• Illinois: Hanging fuzzy dice or air fresheners from your rearview mirror is illegal. The goal here is to keep your line of sight clear, though it’s a tough break for lovers of retro car accessories.
• Michigan: When approaching a roundabout in South Haven, be sure to stop if emergency vehicles are nearby, as it is illegal to enter a roundabout while emergency vehicles are approaching.
• Iowa: On Sundays, keep the honking to a minimum if there’s a horse nearby—it is considered harassment, which makes one wonder how many horses have actually complained.
• Kansas: It is illegal to screech your tires—unintentionally or otherwise.
• North Dakota: In Fargo, you can’t drive barefoot. I guess that means flip-flops are fine, but bare feet are a step too far.
South
• Florida: It is the law to let faster cars pass on highways, no matter how much you want to set your own pace. Florida does not mess around when it comes to staying in the right lane.
• Georgia: Driving with an animal tied to your car roof is illegal—a law that likely exists because of travelers who took Clark Griswold’s antics a bit too literally.
• South Carolina: In Hilton Head, it is illegal to ride a bike without keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.
• Alabama: In case you were wondering, driving while blindfolded is prohibited. It sounds absurd, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
• Tennessee: Shooting at any game from your car is a no-go—unless, of course, it is a whale.
West
• California: Shooting at game from a moving vehicle is banned, except for—you guessed it—whales. Who knew whales were such frequent targets on U.S. roadways?
• Nevada: Camels are not allowed on highways, a remnant from the days when camels were actually used for transportation in the desert.
• Oregon: For those planning to fill up their gas tanks, remember that you are not allowed to pump your own gas in many parts of the state, so pretend you are in New Jersey, where motorists have not been permitted to pump their own gas since 1949!
Stranger than fiction traffic laws in our home state of New York
• No Sleeping: In Southampton Village, you are only allowed to sleep in your car at specific times. The local rule is simple: if your car is stationary, you may not sleep in it between the hours of 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. But it may be assumed that it is lawful to sleep in your vehicle for the remaining 22 hours of the day.
• No U-Turns in West Hampton Dunes: In West Hampton Dunes, if you miss a turn, you had better be a master of rerouting. The village has an ordinance that bans U-turns on all streets, leaving no room for error in your navigation.
• No Disrobing: Feel like changing clothes in your car while in Sag Harbor? Do not. The village’s vaguely worded bathing law makes it illegal to strip down in public or in your vehicle. When you bathe in Sag Harbor, you are also required to wear a swimsuit or suitable covering. No exceptions.
• No Warming Up: Cold outside? Too bad. New York is one of thirty states, where it is against state law to warm up your car unless you are sitting in it. The Unattended Motor Vehicle law prohibits leaving the engine running without the key removed. So, unless you want a ticket, you will need to shiver it out. The only exception to this law is if a remote-control starter is used to warm up the car.
• Other Laws Related to Idling Vehicles: Heavy-duty vehicles are prohibited from idling for more than five minutes at a time for trucks and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds. New York City Prohibits idling for more than three minutes for all vehicles, or one minute outside a school. Fines for idling range from $500 to $18,000 for a first violation.
• No Speeding Past a Sanitation Truck: In 2016, New York expanded its definition of a hazard truck to include sanitation trucks. This means drivers must slow down when passing a garbage truck, just as they would for a fire truck or ambulance. The rule aims to protect sanitation workers from getting clipped by drivers in a hurry.
Although the main goal of Thanksgiving travel is to safely reach family and friends, learning about some of these quirky laws can add a bit of fun to your road trip. Plus, it never hurts to know what to expect when you cross into new territory.
Final thoughts
While these peculiar New York regulations might seem excessive, they are not alone in their strangeness. Just as New York State outlaws warming up your unattended car, unless by keyless remote, other states have quirky twists on idling rules too—like New Jersey, where pumping your own gas is illegal, or California, which limits idling time to protect air quality.
Meanwhile, Sag Harbor’s ban on disrobing in vehicles is reminiscent of laws in Alabama, where driving blindfolded is prohibited (as if that needed to be specified). Compared to these, New York’s ban on speeding past sanitation trucks aligns more with other states’ safety measures, like Florida’s rule to let faster cars pass. While local ordinances reflect unique community concerns and seem more like relics of an overzealous town board meeting, state laws generally aim for broader public safety and environmental protection, often with stricter enforcement and heftier fines.
Although the main goal of Thanksgiving travel is to safely reach family and friends, learning about some of these quirky laws can add a bit of fun to your road trip. Plus, it never hurts to know what to expect when you cross into new territory.
Shannon L. Malone, Esq. is an Associate Attorney at Glynn Mercep Purcell and Morrison LLP in Setauket. She graduated from Touro Law, where she wrote and served as an editor of the Touro Law Review. Ms. Malone is a proud Stony Brook University alumna.
Traffic Court Forum returns on Nov. 28
