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Cross Country Survey: 5 Strange Traffic Laws

By Ephrat Livni, Esq. on February 29, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

We all know that there are some basic rules of the road that we should follow. Whether you're in Alaska or Alabama, a red light means stop and green means go. But there are some pretty strange rules that are on the books in some states that you just can't anticipate.

Let's take a look at some of the strangest traffic laws around the country, collected by Kupper Automotive News.

Strange Traffic Laws

Some of these obscure rules of the road must be relics of a time past and are probably never enforced. But some of them still are, so let's start with one that just got a Google self-driving car in trouble not too long ago in California.

  1. Too Slow Joe: You are familiar with the speeding ticket but did you know you can drive too slow and still be ticketed? In Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska, and California you cannot fall too far below the speed limit. Last year, a Google self-driving car in Mountain View was pulled over for just this. No ticket was ultimately issued, however.
  2. Dress Code: California seems to have no shortage of unusual traffic laws, although this one seems highly unlikely to be enforced. Women may not wear housecoats while driving in this state ... if anyone is even still wearing housecoats. Meanwhile those who disrobe in their vehicle in Sag Harbor, New York also face fines.
  3. Bite Your Tongue: In Rockville, Maryland you could pay for losing your cool. Swearing from a vehicle is more than just an infraction -- reportedly it's a misdemeanor crime.
  4. Watch the Pets: Kentucky drivers face fines if their pet gets too friendly with the vehicle of another, committing "vehicular molestation."
  5. Delivery Bans: Everyone loves a special delivery but not every delivery can be made in every place -- in Topeka, Kansas there is a ban on "dead poultry man" deliveries on Kansas Avenue, while the ice cream man has been banned in Indiannola, Indiana.

Pulled Over?

If you are pulled over and issued a ticket, consult with a lawyer. An attorney can assist you in getting it dismissed or negotiating a no-point penalty that will save you money on insurance.

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