State traffic safety laws: how to look up and verify your state's rules
Why traffic laws differ by state and how to confirm any rule at its official source
Picture a driver who has turned right on red for 20 years and keeps doing it after a move to New York City. Elsewhere in New York, that turn is generally allowed after a full stop unless a sign forbids it. In New York City, it is banned unless a sign allows it [9, 10].
That is the core challenge of traffic law in the United States. Each state writes its own code. Cities can add rules on top. The rules also change often: in 2025 alone, NCSL counted more than 360 new traffic safety laws across 47 states, the District of Columbia (DC) and 2 territories [5].
This hub explains why the rules differ, how to use national summaries without being misled, and how to confirm any rule at its official source. It also links to every page in our state law series.
Why traffic laws differ from state to state
In the U.S. system, the rules of the road are mostly state law. Each legislature writes a vehicle code that covers speed, right of way, seat belts, impaired driving, licensing and penalties. Police enforce it. State courts decide what its words mean. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) notes that state laws on the same issue can differ in definitions, exceptions and other details [11].
The federal government shapes traffic safety through three main levers rather than one national driving code:
- Vehicle standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which govern how vehicles and equipment are built rather than how you drive [1].
- Commercial vehicle rules. Federal rules bar truck and bus drivers from texting or using a handheld phone while driving a commercial vehicle, even during a brief stop at a signal [2].
- Money. Under the Section 405 grant program, a state with lower belt use can count a primary seat belt law toward grant eligibility. Separate grants go to states with qualifying ignition interlock or distracted driving laws [3].
Two other programs work like penalties. If a state lacks a conforming open container law (Section 154) or repeat drunk driver law (Section 164), 2.5% of certain federal highway funds are set aside. The state must then spend that money on safety work, such as drunk driving countermeasures [4].
The upshot: Washington can encourage a law, but each state decides whether to pass it. That is why a “national standard” often shows up in most states but not in all of them.
Cities and counties can add another layer
New York’s statute lets drivers turn right on red after stopping. But it carves out any city of 1 million or more people. Such a city may allow those turns through its own local law [9]. The state driver’s manual turns that into one plain rule for New York City: no right on red unless a sign permits it [10].
City camera programs often depend on state permission. New York lawmakers gave New York City authority for red light cameras in 1988. The city launched what it calls the nation’s first program in 1994 [12]. The city’s 2024 report noted that state law allowed cameras at only 150 of about 13,700 intersections. It also noted that the authority would expire in December 2024 unless renewed [12].
Some states go the other way and block local rules. GHSA lists at least 10 states, including Florida, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, that bar cities from passing their own distracted driving bans [6]. So the full answer to “Is this legal?” can depend on your state, your city and sometimes your county.
What national summaries do well, and where they fall short
Four national sources do most of the heavy lifting. Each one has blind spots.
- GHSA offers one page per issue, with quick counts and a state chart. GHSA describes them as short, high level summaries and defers to state highway safety offices on how to read the laws [11]. Each page shows two dates. The one that matters is when laws were last reviewed. GHSA’s distracted driving page was updated in June 2026, but its laws were last reviewed in June 2025 [6].
- IIHS, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, keeps detailed tables with footnotes, exceptions and a month stamp. IIHS cautions that its tables are for general information and may be out of date. So readers should confirm them [7].
- NCSL runs a traffic safety bill database with NHTSA that covers bills introduced since 2007 and is updated weekly [13]. It is great for spotting change, but many entries are bills that never became law.
- NHTSA’s law digest, the Digest of Impaired Driving and Selected Beverage Control Laws, gives deep state by state legal detail. Yet the newest edition NHTSA lists, published in 2017, reflects laws as of December 31, 2015 [8]. Use it for background, not current penalties.
Trackers can also disagree: GHSA, with laws reviewed in June 2025, counts 33 states and DC with handheld phone bans for all drivers [6]. Our count of the IIHS table dated October 2026 finds 32 states and DC, plus a partial ban in Ohio [7]. Our guide to distracted driving laws by state explains the gap.
Every tracker shares three limits. Review dates lag behind new laws. Categories simplify, so a “yes” may hide age limits or exceptions. A law passed this spring may not show up until the next review.
Which source answers which question
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Source | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| State statutes (the code) | The legal rule itself, with definitions and penalties | Dense wording; check the date the site says the code is current through |
| Session laws and bill history | What changed, when it changed and the effective date | A bill that passed one chamber is not yet law |
| Administrative rules | Details that agencies fill in, such as procedures and equipment rules | Published separately from the statutes |
| DMV driver manual | Plain language rules you are tested on | A guide, not the law; may skip exceptions or lag behind |
| State highway safety office | New law campaigns, enforcement priorities and local contacts | Not a legal reference |
| Court decisions | How judges read unclear words | Hard to search without legal training |
| City or county code | Local speed limits, turn bans and camera programs | Check whether state law allows or blocks the local rule |
| National trackers (GHSA, IIHS, NCSL) | Fast comparisons across states | Dated, simplified and sometimes behind |
Verify your state's law in 5 steps
A careful legal check follows the same order every time. You can run it in about 10 minutes.
- Find the code section. Use a tracker to get oriented, then search your state legislature’s official code site by keyword. Motor vehicle laws often sit in one title, such as Title 46.2 in Virginia [14]. Find your DMV through USA.gov’s state motor vehicle directory and your highway safety office through GHSA’s directory.
- Read the definitions. Small words decide big questions. Virginia’s handheld phone ban applies while driving a “moving motor vehicle” and exempts a driver who is “lawfully parked or stopped” [14]. Federal truck and bus rules, by contrast, spell out that a brief stop at a signal still counts as driving [2]. Whether a word like “stopped” covers a red light is exactly the kind of detail to confirm.
- Check the effective date and recent changes. The history note at the end of a section lists the session laws that changed it. Virginia’s handheld section lists acts from 2020, 2023 and 2026, a sign it has been amended since it first passed [14]. Many states start new laws on July 1 or January 1. In Virginia, laws from a regular session take effect July 1 unless the bill sets another date or is an emergency law [15].
- Read the exceptions and penalties. Virginia’s handheld law exempts, among others, emergency vehicle drivers on duty and anyone reporting an emergency [14]. It sets a $125 fine for a first offense and $250 after that [14]. Points, license action and court costs may sit in other sections.
- Check local rules, then record what you found. Search the city or county code for local speed limits, turn bans and camera programs. Check whether state law blocks local rules on the topic.
Pending bill or enacted law? How to tell
Headlines often say “new law” when a bill has only been introduced or has passed one chamber. Four terms keep the stages straight:
- Introduced or pending: a proposal, not a law.
- Passed: approved by one or both chambers but not yet signed, so still not a law.
- Enacted: passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, or made law another way, such as a veto override.
- In effect: the date the law can be enforced, which can be months after enactment.
NCSL’s database tags each bill with a status such as pending, enacted, failed or vetoed. So check that status rather than the headline [13]. Federal grant rules draw the same lines. To count toward a Section 405 grant, a state law must be enacted, in effect and enforced by the application deadline [3].
Also watch for sunset dates, since some laws expire unless lawmakers renew them, as New York City’s camera authority showed [12].
Red flags that a law summary may be wrong
Be cautious when a page or post shows any of these signs:
- No date, no section number and no link to the statute.
- Law firm or insurer marketing, which is written to win business and may not be updated when the law changes.
- Social media posts and viral “new law” graphics, which often describe a bill that never passed or a law from another state.
- “Every state” claims or penalty amounts with no source or year attached.
- Lookalike “DMV” websites that are not on an official government domain.
- Chatbot or search summaries that cite no official source.
Find your state's law: our series directory
Each page gives national patterns, dated state examples and a quick verification routine.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Topic | What the page covers | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Distracted driving | Handheld, texting and teen phone laws | distracted driving laws by state |
| Teen and novice drivers | Graduated driver licensing (GDL) stages, passenger and night limits | gdl teen driver laws by state |
| Seat belts | Primary vs. secondary enforcement, rear seat coverage | seat belt laws by state |
| Child passengers | Car seat and booster rules by age and size | child passenger safety laws by state |
| Alcohol impairment | Blood alcohol limits, ignition interlocks, license action | dui alcohol impaired driving laws by state |
| Drugs and cannabis | Drug impaired driving laws and testing | drug cannabis impaired driving laws by state |
| Speeding and aggressive driving | Speed limits, reckless driving and street racing | speeding aggressive driving laws by state |
| Speed and red light cameras | Where cameras are allowed, banned or limited | speed camera red light camera laws by state |
| Motorcycles | Helmet, licensing and equipment rules | motorcycle laws by state |
| Bicycles, e-bikes and micromobility | E-bike classes, helmets and where you can ride | bicycle e bike laws by state |
| Pedestrians and crosswalks | Yielding, crosswalk and passing rules | pedestrian crosswalk laws by state |
| School buses and school zones | Stop arm, school zone speed and camera rules | school bus school zone laws by state |
| Move Over | Roadside responder and stopped vehicle rules | move over laws by state |
| Older and medically at risk drivers | License renewal, vision tests and medical reporting | older medically at risk driver laws by state |
How Drive With Care keeps law pages current
Law pages can go out of date quickly, so every page in the series follows this editorial policy:
- Dated and sourced. Every law page shows the month it was last reviewed. It cites dated sources, including each tracker’s review date and the “current as of” date of any table we use.
- Reviewed on a schedule and when the law moves. We review each law page at least once a year. We also recheck pages after the summer and winter windows when many new laws take effect, and whenever a major tracker updates or a big new law passes.
- Corrected when you tell us. If you spot an error or a newer law, tell us through the contact page on drivewithcare.org. Include the state, the section number and an official link if you have one. We check the official source, fix the page and update its reviewed date.
- General information only. Our law pages explain patterns and point to official sources. But they are not legal advice and cannot account for the facts of your situation.
When to talk to a lawyer
National guides cannot tell you how a law applies to your case. Talk with a lawyer licensed in the state where it happened if you face a criminal charge, such as driving under the influence (DUI). The same goes for a crash with injuries, a possible license suspension or a ticket from another state. Get advice, too, before you pay a ticket while holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or a teen license. Your state’s bar association is a good place to start a search.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find my state’s traffic laws online?
Start at your state legislature’s official website, which publishes the current code. Your DMV and highway safety office often explain new laws in plain language. National trackers from GHSA, IIHS and NCSL help you compare states, but check their review dates [6, 7, 13].
Is the DMV driver’s handbook the law?
No, it is a plain language guide to the law. It may skip exceptions or lag behind recent changes. The statute and any official rules are what count [9, 10].
When do new traffic laws take effect?
It depends on the state and the bill, but many states start new laws on July 1 or January 1. Virginia’s default is July 1 after the session [15]. Read the bill itself, since some laws start later or roll out in stages.
Can my city make its own traffic rules?
Sometimes, depending on what state law allows. New York City has its own right on red rule under a state law carve out [9]. But at least 10 states bar local distracted driving bans [6].
Which state’s rules apply on a road trip?
The traffic rules of the state and city where you are driving apply. So on a multistate trip, follow the strictest rule on your route. If you get a ticket away from home, ask a lawyer how it could affect your home license.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Use national summaries to get oriented, then confirm the rule at its official source. Read the definitions, the effective date and the exceptions. Check local rules, and write down the date you checked. When your license, record or safety is at stake, follow the stricter rule.
Related articles
- Distracted driving laws by state: 2026 guide to phone and texting rules
- Teen driver laws by state: how GDL rules compare in 2026
- Seat belt laws by state: back seats, enforcement, fines and exemptions
- DUI and DWI laws by state: BAC limits, suspensions and interlocks
- Speed camera and red light camera laws by state: 2026 guide
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Laws and regulations. No date shown; accessed October 3, 2026. nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations
- 2Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR Part 392, Subpart H: Use of electronic devices (392.80 texting; 392.82 hand-held mobile telephones). Current as of October 1, 2026. ecfr.gov/current/title-49/…/part-392/subpart-H
- 3Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 23 CFR Part 1300, Uniform procedures for state highway safety grant programs (1300.4; Subpart C, 1300.20 to 1300.24). Current as of October 1, 2026. ecfr.gov/current/title-23/…/part-1300
- 4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Highway Administration. Regulatory update of transfer and sanction programs (23 CFR Parts 1270 and 1275; Sections 154 and 164). Federal Register. September 30, 2016. federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/30/2016-23788
- 5National Conference of State Legislatures. Traffic safety trends: state legislative action 2025. Updated September 9, 2026. ncsl.org/transportation/traffic-safety-trends-state-legislative-action-2025
- 6Governors Highway Safety Association. Distracted driving (state law summary). Last updated June 2026; laws last reviewed by state highway safety offices June 2025. ghsa.org/state-laws-issues/distracted-driving
- 7Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Electronic device laws (state table; noncommercial drivers). Current as of October 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/distracted-driving/electronic-device-laws
- 8National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Digest of Impaired Driving and Selected Beverage Control Laws, 30th edition. DOT HS 812 394. June 2017; current as of December 31, 2015. Listed as the newest edition on NHTSA’s digest page, accessed October 3, 2026. nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/impaired-driving
- 9New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1111, Traffic-control signal indications. Most recent revision shown September 22, 2014; accessed October 3, 2026. nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1111
- 10New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s manual, Chapter 4: Traffic control. No date shown; accessed October 3, 2026. dmv.ny.gov/…/chapter-4-traffic-control
- 11Governors Highway Safety Association. State laws and issues (hub page). No date shown; accessed October 3, 2026. ghsa.org/state-laws-issues
- 12New York City Department of Transportation. New York City red light camera program review: 2024 report (2023 data). 2024. nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-red-light-camera-program.pdf
- 13National Conference of State Legislatures. Traffic safety state bill tracking database. Last updated September 15, 2026. ncsl.org/transportation/traffic-safety-legislation-database
- 14Code of Virginia. § 46.2-818.2, Use of handheld personal communications devices in certain motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty. Code of Virginia as shown October 3, 2026. law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-818.2
- 15Constitution of Virginia. Article IV, Section 13: Effective date of laws. Accessed October 3, 2026. law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article4/section13
This article reflects the priorities of traffic safety law and highway safety policy. It is general education, not legal advice for any individual, ticket or case. Laws, penalties and tracker counts change, so verify with official state and local sources. Reviewed October 2026.
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