The Driving Habits You Did Not Know Were Illegal In Each US State

South Carolina: It's illegal to keep trash in your car

Image Source/ Reddit

Listen, sometimes our cars are like our second homes and they can get a little messy. Between empty Starbucks cups, McDonald's wrappers and sweets, it's hard to keep your car in good shape. Well, it's a requirement in South Carolina, where it's illegal to store rubbish in your car.

New York: Switching your playlist while driving

image source: reddit.com

We all know how annoying it is when we settle in for a long drive and that one song comes on that we hate. But reaching to shuffle through your songs on your device while you're driving is a no-go. This is why it's always a good idea to prepare your perfect playlist ahead of time!

Little Rock, Arkansas: Honking your horn after hours

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The strange laws against car horn use in Little Rock, Arkansas are surprisingly stringent and specific. In 1938, it was determined that, at sandwich shops and cold beverage stalls, honking after 9pm could land you a hefty penalty. Hardly seems fair!

California: It's illegal to wear bathrobes at the wheel

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Women drivers in California must adhere to a very peculiar clothing code. As it turn out, women are not allowed to operate motor vehicles when looking stylish in their bathrobes. So take them curlers out your hair before hitting the road. Why does this rule not apply to men though?

Maine: Parking at a Dunkin' Donuts

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Parking within 25 feet of the Dunkin' Donuts in South Berwick, Maine is prohibited. Although the regulations make it clear that the town simply uses the coffee-and-doughnut chain as a reference point for allowed parking zones on a given street, the legislation, as stated, sounds absolutely ridiculous!

New York: Keep your clothes on!

Image Source/ A Girl's Guide to Cars

Sometimes we need to get dressed in our car. Whether it be running late, changing functions, or a new top we just bought and have to put on, it has to be done. However, in New York, it's actually illegal to "disrobe" in your car, probably a determent for car intimacy.

Maryland: Swearing behind the wheel

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Try to control your road rage when driving in Rockville, Maryland. Keeping your cool is always the better course of action, but in Maryland you can receive a demeanour if you're caught using profanity on a public street, highway, or sidewalk where a person might overhear you.

Massachusetts: No gorillas in the car

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The state of Massachusetts takes the transportation of animals very seriously. The popular urban legend that it's illegal to transport gorillas in the back of a car stems from a law that reads, in part: "No person shall transport an animal in the back of a motor vehicle in a space intended for a load on the vehicle on a public way unless such space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, the animal is protected."

Hawaii: Using your hazard lights incorrectly

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We all know what our hazard lights are for... if you don't, stop driving. in Hawaii, they actually made it illegal to use your hazard lights while in motion, and can only be used when stationary. So in this state, don't shove them on to say thanks to someone.

Texas: Missing your windshield wipers

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It's a legal requirement that a vehicle must have working windshield wipers in Texas in order for it to be registered, which I guess is relatively fair. However, they don't actually specify that you must have a windshield, so I guess there's some kind of loophole there...

Cruising aimlessly in Colorado

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You shouldn't wander around in your vehicle in Westminster, Colorado, or any other small town for the matter. Their driving code states: "It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle, or as owner of a motor vehicle to permit its operation, past a traffic control point three times in the same direction within any three-hour period between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m."

Utah: Failing to give way to birds

Image Source/ WPRI.com

As it turns out, birds have quite a few rights in Utah. One of these is that they have the right of way on all highways. So yes, if a pheasant is out in the road while you're speeding along, swerve around it or pick yourself up a nasty fine for failing to adhere to the rules.

West Virginia: Picking up your roadkill

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It happens to us all at times, especially when it's dark. We hit something and before we know it there's a dead raccoon lying in the road. Well, in West Virginia, it's illegal for you to go back for the dead critter, take it home and eat it, so just leave it as it is.

Wyoming: Neglecting to close a gate crossing

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If you travel often along country lanes, be careful of the rules in Wyoming. There must be lots of them as their driving regulations stipulate that you must close the crossing after going through. If you don't you could be landed with a solid $750 fine... nobody wants that.

Ohio: Running out of gas

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We've all been there before when we realize we might not have enough gas to make it to the next gas station. Well, make sure this doesn't happen to you in Ohio. They're strict on their laws and you could just find yourself with a fine if you run out of gas in Youngstown.

Alabama: Wearing blindfolds!

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Although it may seem like stating the obvious, Alabama wants to make sure motorists understand the laws around visibility, and yes they do mention driving blindfolded. In fact, the use of any item that could obscure your vision while driving is forbidden.

Kansas: Transporting dead poultry

Image Source/ Reddit

You might have just come back from a fairly pleasant pheasant hunting trip with all your goods just to realize that Kansas prohibit the transportation of dead poultry in your car. Whatever caused them to implement this law is beyond me, but it means you can't take Turkey to your parents for thanksgiving.

Driving in reverse

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This one seems pretty ridiculous. In Arizona, it's actually against the law to put your car into reverse and drive on a public road. I don't suspect that people are just planning to make their journey in reverse, and some probably just missed an exit, but carry on forward if you find yourself in Arizona.

Spitting from an open window

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I think we are all in agreement that this should become a law everywhere, it's disgusting! In Georgia, it's thankfully illegal to spit from the open window of a car or bus. However, just to add a twist to their regulation, it's absolutely fine to do it from a truck... interesting.

Driving with no steering wheel

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How does someone manage to drive around without a steering wheel? Yet Decatur, Illinois, is ready for such an incident. In case you were thinking of taking out your steering wheel, the town has declared it illegal to operate a motor vehicle without one!

Wheel spinning

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While it can sometimes be easily done, Kansas legislators have outlawed wheel spinning and tyre squealing in an effort to reduce street racing. It's important to note that ripping a burnout is illegal pretty much everywhere and will get you in trouble with the law.

Leaving your car door open

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In Oregon, time is of the essence while loading or unloading passengers or belongings. If you leave your car door open for an extended period of time, you may be subject to a fine. Seems a little harsh to say the least, but I guess it is protective.

Not honking your horn

Image Source/ New West Record

So we know it's illegal to honk your horn after hours, but in Rhode Island it's actually illegal to not honk your horn. They have a requirement there that vehicles must honk their horn when passing others in the road... I wonder how tight the bends are around there!

Driving round with dirty tyres

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Before entering Minnetonka, Minnesota, we would advise you to give your little vehicle a good wash. There, it is considered rude to drive around with filthy tyres or wheel wells that spill dirt onto the road. I mean, it's nice to keep the roads clean but seems a little excessive.

Driving with a personalized plate

Image Source/ Chron

Well, this one's only illegal for some of you. The Garden State implemented a new law to say that anyone wanting to drive with a personalized vanity plate best make sure that their driving record is squeaky clean. If you've ever been done for a DUI, then you'll have to wait ten years.

Wearing headphones while driving

Image Source/ Reddit

Music on the car stereo can be major distraction at times, especially for us that like to listen really loud. Don't think about opting for headphones though, you risk breaching the law in some states and missing vital warnings, such as car horns, railroad crossing bells, or emergency vehicle sirens.

Tailgating other drivers

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Not paying enough attention to the road ahead can be dangerous and following another vehicle too closely is no different. If you're not careful enough you can land yourself a ticket! So no matter how slow they are going, don't think you have the right to try and speed them up.

Driving without your headlights on

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Nighttime driving obviously requires a bit of light, but you may forget to turn them on when it gets dark or when the weather turns bad. It's important to make others aware of you on the road, so be vigilant when using your headlights. After all, you don't want a fine.

Not using blinkers when changing lanes

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If you need to change lanes in heavy traffic, remember to use your blinker to let others know. It might be tempting to just swerve, especially when the roads are clear, but this can land you being pulled over by the feds. It's best to just put your blinker on and take your time.

Using your phone while driving

Image Source/ Reddit

It seems fairly obvious doesn't it, but this can just be as simple as swiping the sat nav on your phone. A growing number of jurisdictions are likely to ban all cell phone usage and in Washington state the DUIE (Driving Under the Influence of Electronics) law has been rolled out. Stay safe!

Not wearing a seat belt

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More than 90% of us use a seat belt, but at least 27 million Americans still choose not to buckle up every time they get behind the wheel, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Even if you're just going around the block, put on that seat belt.

Playing your music way too loud

image source: reddit.com

You might think this is an unfair one seeing as you're not allowed to wear headphones when you're driving, but it's based on the same principle - you need to be able to hear what's going on around you, and with your car, otherwise it's dangerous to drive!

Driving too slowly

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We all know the struggle of being stuck behind a very, very slow driver - and while speeding can land you in trouble, so can driving far too slow if it's turning into very dangerous driving. Holding up traffic or driving slow on high-speed roads could land you in trouble.

Eating and drinking while driving

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Most people are used to doing this balancing act when they're busy on the road, rushing to work and trying not to skip breakfast. But eating and drinking while you're driving means you have one - or even two - less hands for the wheel, so you don't have full control of the car - even if you have full control of your sandwich!

Smoking while driving

image source: reddit.com

This one is more frowned upon than full on illegal, apparently, but the reason is twofold: if you're holding a cigarette, it means you don't have a proper grip on the wheel because you're holding your cigarette. Secondly, it can be a risk if you drop ash or the cigarette on your lap and distract yourself!

Paying for food using your phone in a drive-thru

image source: reddit.com

With most people paying for things on their phone these days - paying for everything, really - you might be surprised at this one. But if you're using your phone to pay for food at a drive-thru, it still counts as using your phone while you're driving, unfortunately - so it's a no-go!

Flashing other drivers to warn them

image source: reddit.com

Lots of drivers do this to be helpful to their road friends if they spot a camera or a cop cruiser up ahead, but the road rules know you're game - it's frowned upon to be flashing any other drivers to warn them about speed cameras or giving them a heads-up about things on the road.

Charging someone for giving them a lift

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Obviously this doesn't count if you're a registered taxi driver or Uber driver, but you can actually get into trouble if you start charging passengers for driving them somewhere when you don't have a license. So next time you send a friend an invoice for that road trip, think again!

Hogging a lane

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This is one of the biggest road faux-pas's you can do on a busy freeway or other lane-rule road. You shouldn't be hogging a lane, like an overtaking lane, for obvious reasons. It can even increase risks on the road when other driver's become so frustrated they start to weave or undertake to get past you!

Not having a cradle for your phone whilst using GPS

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A lot of people use their phones for GPS instead of a physical GPS in their vehicle - and it's not illegal to use your phone for GPS. It is frowned upon, however, to have your phone lose on the seat next to you or lodged into the cup holder - you need to have it in a physical cradle to hold it properly!

Splashing someone with a puddle

image source: reddit.com

If you've ever been on the receiving end of one of these when someone purposefully splashes you by a massive-puddle-drive-by, then you'll probably rejoice at the fact that this a driving no-go. You could get into trouble if a cop catches you splashing pedestrians or cyclists with a puddle!

Leaving snow all over your car

image source: reddit.com

We've all been there: we wake up late to realise it's a snow day and don't have enough time as we thought to clean off our car. You think the defrosted windscreen is enough and set off on your way! But it's a serious issue if you leave snow all over your car whilst driving - especially piled on the roof.

Sleeping in your car whilst drunk

image source: reddit.com

You might think this is a good choice to make, if you think you're too drunk to drive and decide to sleep it off in your parked vehicle, with the ignition very much off. But if you're caught by a cop, you can still get into trouble because you can't prove that you didn't intend to still drive at some point.

Stopping on the freeway shoulder for a rest

image source: reddit.com

You should always try to take a rest from driving when you need it, but this should be in a proper parking place, or a motel. You shouldn't use the freeway shoulder for a nice rest, even though it's empty. It's not a parking place, and you could get in trouble if you do this!

Having a passenger hold a baby while you drive

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Babies need to be in proper seats in the car, and to make it worse you'll get in trouble - as the driver - even if it's not your baby, and the passenger is the one holding it. Even if the passenger has their seatbelt on, holding a baby unsecured in their lap is still dangerous.

And here are 5 things you probably think are illegal - but actually aren't! Riding in the back of a pickup truck

image source: reddit.com

With so much focus put on wearing a proper seatbelt, you might have put a lot of money on this one being illegal, surely? It's still dangerous to do so, but not actually illegal - some areas have limits on the mileage you should drive with someone in the pickup bed, though.

Driving without shoes or socks on

image source: reddit.com

Apparently the only issue with this would be how uncomfortable it would be to press those pedals with no shoes or socks! Because it's not actually illegal. It's legal in every state to drive barefoot, as long as you have full control of the foot pedals and of the car.

Driving naked

image source: reddit.com

In case the urge ever overtakes you, we guess? Of course, you have to consider any nudity laws in public for the areas you're driving to - or through - but actually sitting in your vehicle buck naked isn't illegal. The problem is getting in and out of your car that way!

Using foul language at a cop

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You might have thought this was illegal - or maybe it should be - but it's technically not. Though, of course, it's not very nice, it's aggressive and they're going to take action against you if they think you're being violent through words (such as threatening them with foul language!).

Turning right on a red light

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Almost everywhere in the United States actually lets you turn right on a red light - unless there's a sign up that specifically says you shouldn't do it! The rule usually requires you to fully stop before making the turn. Part of the reason it isn't illegal is due to laws that try to keep traffic flowing!