Questions tagged [driving]
For questions specifically related to the operation of a vehicle on the road. Consider also traffic, vehicle, and speeding.
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Why would someone get a fine when using a disabled parking space when the disabled person is not in the car?
An article in LA Times about someone parking on a disabled parking space without the disabled person being in the car:
(...) I saw a woman pull into a disabled parking space and begin to
exit her ...
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Why is drunk driving causing accident punished so much worse than just drunk driving?
When people drink and drive and then cause an accident especially where if someone dies they get years and years in prison but just the act of drunk driving is punished way more lenient. Shouldn't ...
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In Europe, are you allowed to enter an intersection on red light in order to allow emergency vehicles to pass?
I've seen a video where cars are stopped at a red light, when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind with sirens on. Emergency vehicle picks the lane with the least traffic, which only has one ...
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Is there any way to legally sleep in your car while drunk?
As I understand it, if one is found inside one's car with the keys while drunk, even if asleep, one is as guilty of drunk driving as if one was actually driving. If one finds oneself over the limit, ...
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What does "Have you been drinking?" really mean?
If a police officer asks a driver "Have you been drinking?", then the driver should either plead the fifth (and not answer the question), or answer the question truthfully. Let's assume the ...
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What laws are there regarding being pulled over by an unmarked cop car/undercover cop?
Although this has never happened to me, I've read and heard about people driving on the road and then being signaled (in some way, usually with reds and blues) to pull over for a ticket and the car ...
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Is it legal for a group of drivers to completely "fill" a roundabout?
Suppose a group of drivers want to block all regular use of a particular roundabout, so they all just start driving in it in circles. Once they're all in, the roundabout is useless, because there are ...
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Has a common law defence ever held water?
The UK is a common law country. It is a widely held belief of many people that statute Acts of parliament (i.e. most 'laws') only apply with the "consent of the governed"; and that one may be a "free ...
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If my speedometer breaks without my knowledge, would I be responsible if I broke the speed limit by a small amount?
Let's say that I drive down an interstate highway at a speed of 68 miles per hour, where the speed limit is 65. I think that I am going 63 miles per hour because my speedometer is off by five miles ...
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Why is place of birth shown on European driving licences?
Driving licences issued by the EEA-countries display the place of birth of the license holder. Why is this information so important that it needs to be on the driving license?
I've tried to research ...
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On what day does a person turn "X years and 6 months" for the purpose of driver licensing in USA states?
I was looking at the legal age when a person can have a permit. In some states, it is 14 and a half, in others, it is 15 and a half, and so on.
My question is: if someone is born on August 31st and ...
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Do you need a driver's license to travel in the U.S.?
In the U.S., the law that governs motor vehicles is the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
But according to the Constitution;
Freedom of movement under United States law is governed ...
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Is it an independent and additional offence to have a fake passenger (e.g., a mannequin) to try to avoid HOV violation detection?
Reading https://ktla.com/news/local-news/carpool-violator-busted-in-southern-california-despite-next-level-dummy/amp/ (mirror) made me wonder: is it illegal to have a fake passenger (e.g., a mannequin)...
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If someone removes a speed limit sign, can one still be ticketed for driving over the limit?
Say a truck driver were to plow into a speed limit sign, rendering it completely unreadable, and further completely unidentifiable as a speed limit sign. It just so happens that this same sign is the ...
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Do I need a physical address to get a driver's license?
I'm currently homeless and need a license for work. I do not want to go to a shelter or request help from friends or family. Yet, the local DMV will not let me apply for a driver's license without an ...
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Under what circumstance is it a crime if a car owner allows someone other than themself to drive their car?
In a New Hampshire "driving law test" that I have, there is a question "Under what circumstance is it a crime if a car owner allows someone other than themself to drive their car?" ...
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When do I own a car (private sale)
Let's say I buy a car in a private sale. I pay the seller, and we fill out the change of ownership form. Some time later (or perhaps the next day), the seller will post the form, and it will probably ...
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May I create a custom license plate myself (in Virginia) using a purchased blank plate?
I live in America (VA), and I wanted to replace my current license plate with a customized one.
I found an item on Amazon, which gives me a blank black license plate with white text.
The original ...
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Meter maid in San Francisco blocks the way, and issues the parking ticket while the driver is present
While driving in San Francisco, I got a cell phone call that I had to take. So I stopped at the metered space for maybe 2 minutes to take a call.
Next thing I see is a parking enforcement car behind ...
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Flashing the emergency lights at a vehicle to dim the headlights
OK, let me give you the facts. First, my dad's 2005 Toyota Camry has very low low beams. You simply cannot see with the low beams in all situations.
The night in question I was driving my dad's car ...
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Could the federal government begin registering vehicles and issuing driver licenses, overriding state law?
Currently, vehicle registration and driver licensing are handled primarily by states in the US. However, aircraft registration and pilot certification is handled by the federal government. Could the ...
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What to do if driver's license is lost during road trip?
My friend just lost her driver's license in California, during a road trip from Arizona to Oregon. It's an Arizona license, but she's moving to Oregon. Since she's moving, she doesn't even have an ...
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What possible penalties can there be for failing to comply with rule 286 of the UK highway code?
Rule 286 requires one to give one's name and address to another party in the case of an accident, but what is the penalty range for non compliance?
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Parking Ticket while parked in our driveway
I can't upload my image, so I will do my best to explain the visual. I also apologize if this sort of question is not to meant to be asked on this branch of Stack Exchange.
I, along with the other ...
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How should turn lane pavement markings be interpreted in Idaho?
There's a certain intersection in Idaho, USA that's causing confusion for a lot of drivers. As you can see in the photo, the pavement widens near the intersection, as if there should be a right turn ...
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2
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Is it legal to drive in reverse on a non-divided road that has a speed limit of more than 80 km/h?
In "The Official Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Driver’s Handbook", they said
It is illegal to drive in reverse on a divided road that has a speed limit of more than 80 km/h.
Is it legal ...
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Is smart watch illegal while in control of the vehicle?
From the gov.uk website:
It’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device
that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle.
A smartwatch can send or receive ...
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Who is responsible if a customer does not specify location to taxi driver?
At an airport a family decides to take a taxi and tells the driver they want to go to a particular road and the taxi driver tells them they know that road and feeds it into the GPS. Everything seems ...
user44651
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Virginia right turn arrow street markings
In Virginia does a right turn arrow in white painted on the street require you to turn right? Or does it also have to say right turn only? Or perhaps there has to be a physical sign? Or can this be ...
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DUI question with keyless ignition
I am aware you can get a DUI just sitting impaired in a car with keys in ignition. I have a car with a keyless ignition. I was wondering what the standard for DUI is in this type of car. I do not ...
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"Evading" police car (with lights on) before it turns around to follow you
Say you're excessively speeding down a divided highway when a police cruiser passes you on the other side of the median and flips on the lights and sirens. Now of course you assume this is a result of ...
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How to win against a moving violation ticket that was issued different than what I had allegedly committed?
I was stopped by an officer that claimed I sped over a 30mph speed limit. When he saw that I have a radar detector, he proceeded to "cut me a break" and gave me a ticket for "failed to signal" (but I ...
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California: Is it okay to use the center left turn lane to merge right?
In California if I'm at a stop in (1) and want to turn left on a busy street, is it okay to use the center left turn lane in (2) to merge right with traffic (as long as I don't use it more than 200 ...
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Driving without physical copy of License
If you have a license and drive but forget your license and get pulled over what happens? Do you get a penalty for forgetting it at your house?
user8858
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1
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Am I legally obligated to get a driver's license after moving?
I recently moved from Arizona to Washington, and I had to get a Washington Driver's License to be able to register my car (the AZ registration was about to expire). However, pretending I didn't need ...
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What happens if you are pulled over for speeding but not given a ticket?
This is probably a duplicate question, but I'm very freaked out about what happened. I apologize if it is.
I'm a teenager who just got pulled over for the first time (unbeknownst to be, the on-ramp ...
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Do not pass or assist another vehicle to pass you by using this lane
Could someone confirm if "do not pass or assist another vehicle to pass you by using this lane" means:
Do not pass another vehicle by using this lane, and
Do not assist another vehicle to ...
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Who gets the traffic ticket in a self-driving car?
I read in this Bloomberg article
Ten days later, a Mountain View motorcycle cop noticed traffic stacking up behind a Google car going 24 miles an hour in a busy 35 mph zone. He zoomed over and ...
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Can I drive with just a copy of a missing license?
I have an Oklahoma CDL and I lost it at a truck stop in Oklahoma. Can I still drive with just a photocopy of my driver license?
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Which has right of way: a funeral procession or a stopped school bus?
In Massachusetts, I recently witnessed a funeral procession going one way on a road. In the other direction on the road was a school bus that stopped opposite the middle of the funeral procession and ...
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Can a traffic citation be issued solely off of witness account?
In general, one driver reporting the plates of another is not likely to result in a citation being issued. Even if a citation were to be issued, I'd assume the initial caller would be required to ...
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Is British Columbia violating the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic by requiring foreign drivers to exchange their license within three months?
According to the 1949 Geneva Convention citizens of any country that signed the agreement are able to drive in any other country for up to one year with an international driving permit:
No ...
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Can a new driver legally drive themselves while waiting for their license card to be mailed to them?
My sister just passed her driver's test. According to the DMV, her license is being processed and will be mailed to her, but they do not issue temporary licenses. In the meantime, she may need to ...
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Is it illegal to lock the wheel of a car?
Is it illegal to lock the wheel of a car and demand money for unlocking it because the car was parked in an area of reserved use by the person placing the lock in the car?
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During a traffic stop, should you disclose that you are carrying a licensed firearm without being asked for it?
Consider a routine traffic stop and assume the driver or the passenger has a firearm, legally obtained, and legally concealed.
Is there any obligation to reveal that they are carrying that firearm?
...
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Do police have a more extensive file on a person than can be obtained from the DMV?
Do police have a more extensive driving/traffic file on me than I can obtain from the DMV?
I just called the DMV headquarters in Oregon, my state of residence. After I answered two simple security ...
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Where can I get a list of driving "primary offenses?"
As I understand it (and please correct me if I am wrong), (the law in many if not all U.S. states) classifies (non-moving) driving offenses into at least two categories.
Primary offenses are non-...
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Temporary French residency and foreign driving licenses
Residents of France who hold a non-EU, non-EEA license to drive may continue to use that license for up to one year after establishing residency, subject to certain conditions.
The relevant law may ...
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Age you have to be to drive with a disabled parent
I was in a car accident 9 years ago. My spine was fused twice and I know I am permanently disabled. I have 2 kids, one is 12 years old and another is 14.
Can the oldest child get an early driver's ...
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Which level of myopia is the highest possible to be allowed to drive a car?
Is there the highest corrected myopia level (in diopters) that allows you to drive a car in the US? Implying that you get 90%+ vision acuity with that correction (with glasses/lenses), but more than ...
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