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What are the Driving Laws in My State?

Every state has laws governing Financial Responsibility, Liability Coverage, Seat Belt Usage, Driving Under the Influence, Older Drivers and Young Drivers. Here is a brief synopsis:

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWS
All states have financial responsibility laws. This means that people involved in an automobile accident are required to furnish proof of financial responsibility up to certain minimum dollar limits. To comply with financial responsibility laws, most drivers purchase automobile liability insurance. The insurance industry and consumer groups generally recommend a minimum of $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident since accidents may cost far more than the minimum limits mandated by most states.

LIABILITY COVERAGE LAWS
All 50 states have different requirements when it comes to liability insurance coverage. Most states require car owners to buy a minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance before they can legally register or drive their cars. Some states require that you buy Personal Injury Protection (PIP).  This covers your medical expenses and lost wages in the event of a car accident.  Several states have passed "no-fault" laws, under which your car insurance policy must cover medical bills for injuries suffered in an auto accident—regardless of who caused the accident.

SEATBELT LAWS
Most states and the District of Columbia have a primary seatbelt enforcement law, which allows law enforcement officers to stop a car for noncompliance with seatbelt laws. The other states have secondary laws; officials can only issue seatbelt violations if they stop motorists for other infractions. New Hampshire is the only state that does not have a seatbelt law that applies to adults.

DRUNK UNDER THE INFLUENCE LAWS
Most states have passed numerous drunk driving laws and instituted harsh penalties designed to deter people from driving under the influence. These include:

•  Lowering the legal limit to .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC).
•  Establishing the “Illegal Per Se” law, under which it is inherently illegal to drive with a BAC level of .08 or above. •  Raising the legal drinking age to 21.
•  Instituting “Administrative License Revocation” (ALR). Under this law, an individual who is arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) has his or her driver's license suspended at the time of arrest.
•  Adopting “Implied Consent.” Any person operating a vehicle in states where this law is in effect is deemed to have consented to submit to a breathalyzer test.
•  Establishing the “Open Container” law that prohibits open containers of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles.
•  Zero Tolerance for underage drunk driving.
•  Jail, fines, license suspension and vehicle impoundment.
•  Mandatory driver’s license revocation when a driver’s BAC level is above the state’s legal limit. 
•  License suspension for refusing a breath test.
•  Ignition interlocks for repeat offenders. These locks prevent the car from starting if the driver’s BAC exceeds the legal limit.
•  Increasing measures to prevent underage drivers from obtaining alcohol. 
•  Instituting sobriety checkpoints.
•  Canceling the vehicle registration of drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked due to alcohol-related offenses.
•  Stiffer penalties for those who drive drunk with kids in their car.
•  Stricter penalties for repeat offenders and for causing death or injury.

YOUNG DRIVER LAWS
Young drivers account for a disproportionate number of motor vehicle crashes. States are increasingly adopting laws to help lower the crash rate. One approach has been to lower blood alcohol content (BAC) limits so those young drivers who drink even small amounts of alcohol will be penalized. Another has been to require a more rigorous learning period before granting young drivers the privilege of a driver’s license. This requires young drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 to apply for a graduated drivers license (GDL) to help them improve their driving skills and habits before receiving full driving privileges.

For more information about the driving laws in your state, you can consult any of the following:

U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Federal Highway Administration; AARP; American Automobile Association; American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; Insurance Information Institute.