Hand-held ban |
drivers in highway work zones |
Young drivers all cellphone ban |
drivers younger than 18 |
Texting ban |
all drivers |
Enforcement |
primary; secondary for drivers younger than 18 |
Rural interstates (mph) |
70 |
Urban interstates (mph) |
70 |
Other limited access roads (mph) |
65 |
Other roads (mph) |
55 |
Have a minimum age of |
15, 6 months1 |
Have a mandatory holding period of |
9 months1 |
Have a minimum supervised driving time of |
45 hours, 15 of which must be at night |
Have a minimum age of |
16, 3 months2 |
Nighttime restrictions |
midnight-4 a.m. 1 secondary enforcement |
Passenger restrictions
(family members excepted unless otherwise noted) |
first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 21 secondary enforcement |
Nighttime restrictions |
until age 18 (min. age: 18) |
Passenger restrictions |
until age 18 (min. age: 18) |
General population |
8 years |
Older population |
5 years for people 75 and older |
General population |
when renewing in person |
Older population |
75 and older, every renewal |
General population |
both, every other renewal |
Older population |
not permitted 75 and older |
Must be in child restraint |
younger than 2 years in a rear-facing child restraint or until the child reaches the minimum weight limit for a forward facing child safety seat as prescribed by the manufacturer; 7 years and younger in a child safety seat (effective 07/01/19) |
Adult safety belt permissible |
8 through 17 years3 |
Maximum fine 1st offense |
$50 |
Seating preference |
children in rear-facing devices must be in a rear seat if available; if not available, they may be placed in front only if front passenger airbag is deactivated |
Children not covered |
all children covered |
Initial effective date |
01/01/88 |
Standard enforcement? |
no |
Who is covered? In what seats? |
18+ years in front seat |
Maximum fine 1st offense |
$25 |
Can nonuse decrease monetary awards for injuries in lawsuits? |
no |
Motorcyclists covered |
all riders |
Covered by state law |
no law |
Restrictions on riding in cargo areas |
yes |
Gaps in coverage |
people 16 and older; farmers when crossing a highway to go from field to field |
On which roads are low-speed vehicles permitted? |
roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less |
What is the top speed permissible for low-speed vehicles? |
25 mph |
Statewide or only specified locations? |
counties, cities, and towns may operate cameras at no more than 1 intersection for every 10,000 residents; requires local ordinance; the exception is the Washington, DC metropolitan area, it permits up to 10 camera sites or 1 site per 10,000 residents, whichever is greater |
Violations |
red light |
Citations issued to whom? |
owner |
Who is liable? |
driver |
What image is taken? |
2 photographs or other recorded images |
Traditional enforcement penalty |
$200 maximum fine; 4 points |
Auto enforcement penalties/record |
$50 maximum fine; no court costs; not a criminal offense; no points; may not be used by insurers |