|
What are the driving laws in my state?
AUTOMOBILE FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY LAWS

Most states require car owners to buy a
minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance
before they can legally drive their cars. All states have financial
responsibility laws. This means that people involved in an automobile
accident will be 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.
The chart below shows mandatory requirements for bodily injury (BI),
physical damage (PD) liability, no-fault personal injury protection
(PIP), and uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorists coverage. It
also indicates which states have only financial responsibility (FR)
laws.
|
AUTOMOBILE
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LIMITS BY STATE


State |

Insurance
required |

Minimum liability
limits (1) |
| Alabama |
BI & PD Liab |
20/40/10 |
| Alaska |
BI & PD Liab |
50/100/25 |
| Arizona |
BI & PD Liab |
15/30/10 |
| Arkansas |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
25/50/25 |
| California |
BI & PD Liab |
15/30/5 (2) |
| Colorado |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/15 |
| Connecticut |
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM |
20/40/10 |
| Delaware |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
15/30/10 |
| D.C. |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/10 |
| Florida |
PD Liab, PIP |
10/20/10 (3) |
| Georgia |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
| Hawaii |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
20/40/10 |
| Idaho |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/15 |
| Illinois |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
20/40/15 |
| Indiana |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| Iowa |
BI & PD Liab |
20/40/15 |
| Kansas |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/10 |
| Kentucky |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
25/50/10 |
| Louisiana |
BI & PD Liab |
10/20/10 |
| Maine |
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM |
50/100/25 (4) |
| Maryland |
BI & PD Liab, PIP (5), UM |
20/40/15 |
| Massachusetts |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
20/40/5 |
| Michigan |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
20/40/10 |
| Minnesota |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM |
30/60/10 |
| Mississippi |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
| Missouri |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/10 |
| Montana |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| Nebraska |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
| Nevada |
BI & PD Liab |
15/30/10 |
| New Hampshire |
FR only, UM |
25/50/25 |
| New Jersey |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
15/30/5 (6) |
| New Mexico |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| New York |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/10 (7) |
| North Carolina |
BI & PD Liab |
30/60/25 |
| North Dakota |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/25 |
| Ohio |
BI & PD Liab |
12.5/25/7.5 |
| Oklahoma |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/25 |
| Oregon |
BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM |
25/50/10 |
| Pennsylvania |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
15/30/5 |
| Rhode Island |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/25 (3) |
| South Carolina |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/25 |
| South Dakota |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/25 |
| Tennessee |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 (3) |
| Texas |
BI & PD Liab |
20/40/15* |
| Utah |
BI & PD Liab, PIP |
25/50/15 (3) |
| Vermont |
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM |
25/50/10 |
| Virginia |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
25/50/20 |
| Washington |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/10 |
| West Virginia |
BI & PD Liab, UM |
20/40/10 |
| Wisconsin |
FR only, UM |
25/50/10 |
| Wyoming |
BI & PD Liab |
25/50/20 |
(1) The first two numbers refer to bodily injury
liability limits and the third number to property liability. For
example, 20/40/10 means coverage up to $40,000 for all persons injured
in an accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 for one individual, and
$10,000 coverage for property damage.
(2) Low-cost policy limits for low-income drivers in the California
Automobile Assigned Risk Plan are 10/20/3.
(3) Instead of policy limits, policyholders can satisfy the
requirement with a combined single limit policy. Amounts vary by state.
(4) In addition, policyholders must also carry at least $1,000 for
medical payments.
(5) May be waived for the policyholder but is compulsory for passengers.
(6) Basic policy (optional) limits are 10/10/5. Uninsured and
underinsured motorist coverge not available under the basic policy but
uninsured motorist coverage is required under the standard policy.
(7) In addition, policyholders must have 50/100 for wrongful death
coverage.
*Minimum
coverage requirements will increase to 25/50/25 on April 1, 2008 and to
30/60/30 on January 1, 2011.
Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; state
departments of insurance.
|
|
STATE AUTO INSURANCE LAWS GOVERNING LIABILITY COVERAGE

|
- In the following 28
states auto liability is based on the traditional tort liability
system. In these states, there are no restrictions on lawsuits:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming
|
SEAT-BELT LAWS

Only 26 states and the District of
Columbia have a primary seat-belt enforcement law, which allows law
enforcement officers to stop a car for noncompliance with seat-belt
laws. The other states have secondary laws; officials can only issue
seat-belt violations if they stop motorists for other infractions. New
Hampshire is the only state that does not have a seat-belt law that
applies to adults.
Seat-belt use reached 82 percent nationwide in 2007, a slight gain from
81 percent use in 2006. States with primary seat-belt laws had an
average 87 percent usage rate, versus 73 percent in states with
secondary laws.
|
STATE SEAT-BELT USE LAWS


State |

2006
usage rate (1) |

Primary/secondary
enforcement (2) |

Requirements |

Maximum
fine, first offense |

Damages
reduced (3) |
| Alabama |
82.9% |
P |
15+ yrs. in front seat |
$25 |
|
| Alaska |
83.2 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
15 |
X |
| Arizona |
NA |
S |
5+ yrs. in front seat; 5-15 in all seats |
10 |
X |
| Arkansas |
69.3 |
S |
15+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
|
| California |
93.4 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
20 |
X |
| Colorado |
80.3 |
S |
16+ yrs. in front seat |
15 |
X |
| Connecticut |
83.5 |
P |
7+ yrs. in front seat |
15 |
|
| Delaware |
86.1 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| D.C. |
85.4 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
50 |
|
| Florida |
NA |
S |
6+ yrs. in front seat; 6-17 yrs. in all seats |
30 |
X |
| Georgia |
NA |
P |
6-17 yrs. in all seats; 18+ yrs. in front seat |
15 |
|
| Hawaii |
92.5 |
P |
8-17 yrs. in all seats; 18+ yrs. in front seat |
45 |
|
| Idaho |
79.8 |
S |
7+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| Illinois |
87.8 |
P |
16+ yrs. in front seat; 18 yrs. and younger in
all seats if driver is younger than 18 yrs. |
25 |
|
| Indiana |
84.3 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| Iowa |
89.6 |
P |
11+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
X |
| Kansas |
73.5 |
(4) |
14-17 yrs. in all seats; 18+ yrs. in front seat |
60 |
X |
| Kentucky |
67.2 |
P |
more than 40 in. in all seats |
25 |
|
| Louisiana |
74.8 |
P |
13+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
|
| Maine |
77.2 |
P |
18+ yrs. in all seats |
50 |
|
| Maryland |
NA |
P |
16+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
|
| Massachusetts |
66.9 |
S |
12+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| Michigan |
94.3 |
P |
4+ yrs. in front seat; 4-15 yrs. in all seats |
25 |
X |
| Minnesota |
83.3 |
S |
all in front seat; 3-10 yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| Mississippi |
73.6 |
P |
4-7 yrs. in all seats; 8+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
|
| Missouri |
75.2 |
(4) |
16+ yrs. in front seat |
10 |
X |
| Montana |
79.0 |
S |
6+ yrs. in all seats |
20 |
|
| Nebraska |
76.0 |
S |
18+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
X |
| Nevada |
NA |
S |
6+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| New Hampshire |
NA |
S |
|
|
|
| New Jersey |
90.0 |
P |
7 yrs. and younger but more than 80 lbs.; 8-17
yrs. in all seats; 18+ yrs. in front seat |
20 |
X |
| New Mexico |
89.6 |
P |
18+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| New York |
83.0 |
P |
16+ yrs. in front seat |
50 |
X |
| North Carolina |
88.5 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| North Dakota |
79.0 |
S |
18+ yrs. in front seat |
20 |
X |
| Ohio |
81.7 |
S |
4-14 yrs. in all seats; 15+ yrs. in front seat |
30 driver/20 passenger |
X |
| Oklahoma |
83.7 |
P |
13+ yrs. in front seat |
20 |
|
| Oregon |
94.1 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
75 |
X |
| Pennsylvania |
NA |
S |
8-17 yrs. in all seats; 18+ yrs. in front seat |
10 |
|
| Rhode Island |
NA |
(4) |
13+ yrs. in all seats |
57 |
|
| South Carolina |
72.5 |
P |
6+ yrs. in front seat; 6+ yrs. in rear seat with shoulder
belt |
25 |
|
| South Dakota |
71.3 |
S |
18+ yrs. in front seat |
20 |
|
| Tennessee |
78.6 |
P |
16+ yrs. in front seat |
50 |
|
| Texas |
90.4 |
P |
4 yrs. and younger but 36 inches or more; 5-16 yrs.
in all seats; 17+ yrs. in front seat |
200 |
|
| Utah |
88.6 |
(4) |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
45 |
|
| Vermont |
82.4 |
S |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
25 |
|
| Virginia |
78.7 |
S |
16+ yrs. in front seat |
25 |
|
| Washington |
96.3 |
P |
16+ yrs. in all seats |
37 |
|
| West Virginia |
NA |
S |
8+ yrs. in front seat; 8-17 yrs. in all seats |
25 |
X |
| Wisconsin |
75.4 |
S |
8+ yrs. in all seats |
10 |
X |
| Wyoming |
63.5 |
S |
9+ yrs. in all seats |
25 driver/10 passenger |
|
| United States |
81.0% |
|
|
|
|
(1) Surveys used by states must be actual observation of
shoulder-belt use by drivers and front seat passengers.
(2) Primary enforcement means police may stop a vehicle and issue a
fine for noncompliance with seat-belt laws. Secondary
enforcement means that police may issue a fine for not wearing a
seat-belt only if the vehicle has been stopped for other traffic
violations.
(3) Court awards for compensation for injury may be reduced
if seat-belt laws were violated.
(4) Primary enforcement for children; ages vary.
NA=Data not available.
Source: National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, U.S.
Department of Transportation; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. |
|
DRUNK DRIVING LAWS

| | | | |