Post by Admin on Aug 25, 2011 20:43:17 GMT -5
From digihitch.com
(www.digihitch.com/usa428.html)
Laws by state: www.digihitch.com/usa-category-7.html
General Law Info
The Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) was established as a set of guidelines related to motor vehicle safety. These 'model laws' were then adopted by individual U.S. States, with changes to the wording where believed necessary. To understand the gist of laws related to hitchhiking in the United States, it helps to go to the source. Below you can find the reprinted code, with interpretations by me, Morgan 'Salman' (in italics). Any emphasis added to the words below was added by me.
Uniform Vechicle Code Sections Related to Hitchhiking
UVC § 11- 313(a) Restrictions on use of controlled-access roadway [State authority restrictions]
The (State highway commission) by resolution or order entered in its minutes, and local authorities by ordinance, may regulate or prohibit the use of any controlled-access roadway (or highway) within their respective jurisdictions by any class or kind of traffic which is found to be incompatible with the normal and safe movement of traffic.
The above relates to Interstate Highways and Turnpikes, and is put in place to make sure that vehicles can maintain a steady speed without having to watch out for pedestrians or bicycles.
UVC § 11- 313(b) Restrictions on use of controlled-access roadway [Signs for restrictions]
The (State highway commission) or the local authority adopting any such prohibition shall erect and maintain official traffic-control devices on the controlled-access highway on which such prohibitions are applicable and when in place no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such devices.
The "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs at the entrance to many Interstate Highways is an example of this. The state of Washington goes above and beyond by placing signs on the shouder of its highways with a hitchhiking thumb and a red slash through it, to make sure hitchhikers understand they cannot stand on the highway shoulder. If there is no prohibiting sign at the entrance to a highway it is technically legal to enter the road, though other laws of safety still apply (see below).
UVC § 11- 506(a) Pedestrians on highways [Sidewalk available]
Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
This refers mainly to smaller highways in or near towns, where sidewalks are more common.
UVC § 11- 506(b) Pedestrians on highways [No sidewalk available]
Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder, as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway.
Accidents and deaths do occur if a pedestrian is too close to the boundary line of a highway. To be safe and within the law, stay off the paved section of the highway shoulder. Allow as much room between you and the driving lane as possible.
UVC § 11- 506(c) Pedestrians on highways [No sidewalk or shoulder available]
Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway.
The best example of this law in practice is on small, rural highways, where the shoulder is maybe one foot wide or less. In such a case it is illegal to walk with your back to traffic. You must be facing the cars that are closest to you.
UVC § 11- 506(d) Pedestrians on highways [Pedestrian in roadway]
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
If for any reason you have to enter the road, vehicles always have priority. Also, if you are standing too close to the road, an officer can ticket you for failing to yield to traffic. (See the definition of roadway further down.)
UVC § 11- 507(a) Pedestrians soliciting rides or business [Soliciting ride]
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Many people see this law in a state's statutes and assume it means hitchhiking is illegal (especially if the state has modified the wording to say 'no person shall hitchhike in a roadway'). This is not the case. A roadway is the driving lanes of a highway and in most cases does not include the shoulder of the road. See the exact definition of roadway below.
UVC § 11- 507(b) Pedestrians soliciting rides or business [Soliciting work, business, contributions]
No person shall stand on a highway for the purpose of soliciting employment, business, or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
As you will see in the terms below, the definition of the word 'highway' includes its shoulders. This means that it is illegal in most places throughout the USA to stand anywhere on a highway to ask for money.
UVC § 11- 512 Pedestrians under influence of alcohol or drugs
A pedestrian who is under the influence of alcohol or any drug to a degree which renders such pedestrian a hazard shall not walk or be upon a highway except on a sidewalk.
There are always cases of pedestrians who attempt to walk or hitchhike home while drunk. There are many reported deaths each year as a result of this (most occurring by locals within city or town limits). Stay off the road altogether while intoxicated. An officer will arrest you if it is believed you are under the influence while on a highway.
Definitions of common words in the code
UVC § 1-129 [§ 1-138] Highway
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.1
1By the above definition, the terms "street" and "highway" are synonymous and interchangeable.
UVC § 1-156 [§ 1-168] Pedestrian
Any person afoot.
UVC § 1-173 [§ 1-186] Roadway
That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder even though such sidewalk, berm or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles or other human powered vehicles. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways the term "roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
(www.digihitch.com/usa428.html)
Laws by state: www.digihitch.com/usa-category-7.html
General Law Info
The Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) was established as a set of guidelines related to motor vehicle safety. These 'model laws' were then adopted by individual U.S. States, with changes to the wording where believed necessary. To understand the gist of laws related to hitchhiking in the United States, it helps to go to the source. Below you can find the reprinted code, with interpretations by me, Morgan 'Salman' (in italics). Any emphasis added to the words below was added by me.
Uniform Vechicle Code Sections Related to Hitchhiking
UVC § 11- 313(a) Restrictions on use of controlled-access roadway [State authority restrictions]
The (State highway commission) by resolution or order entered in its minutes, and local authorities by ordinance, may regulate or prohibit the use of any controlled-access roadway (or highway) within their respective jurisdictions by any class or kind of traffic which is found to be incompatible with the normal and safe movement of traffic.
The above relates to Interstate Highways and Turnpikes, and is put in place to make sure that vehicles can maintain a steady speed without having to watch out for pedestrians or bicycles.
UVC § 11- 313(b) Restrictions on use of controlled-access roadway [Signs for restrictions]
The (State highway commission) or the local authority adopting any such prohibition shall erect and maintain official traffic-control devices on the controlled-access highway on which such prohibitions are applicable and when in place no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such devices.
The "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs at the entrance to many Interstate Highways is an example of this. The state of Washington goes above and beyond by placing signs on the shouder of its highways with a hitchhiking thumb and a red slash through it, to make sure hitchhikers understand they cannot stand on the highway shoulder. If there is no prohibiting sign at the entrance to a highway it is technically legal to enter the road, though other laws of safety still apply (see below).
UVC § 11- 506(a) Pedestrians on highways [Sidewalk available]
Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
This refers mainly to smaller highways in or near towns, where sidewalks are more common.
UVC § 11- 506(b) Pedestrians on highways [No sidewalk available]
Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder, as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway.
Accidents and deaths do occur if a pedestrian is too close to the boundary line of a highway. To be safe and within the law, stay off the paved section of the highway shoulder. Allow as much room between you and the driving lane as possible.
UVC § 11- 506(c) Pedestrians on highways [No sidewalk or shoulder available]
Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway.
The best example of this law in practice is on small, rural highways, where the shoulder is maybe one foot wide or less. In such a case it is illegal to walk with your back to traffic. You must be facing the cars that are closest to you.
UVC § 11- 506(d) Pedestrians on highways [Pedestrian in roadway]
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
If for any reason you have to enter the road, vehicles always have priority. Also, if you are standing too close to the road, an officer can ticket you for failing to yield to traffic. (See the definition of roadway further down.)
UVC § 11- 507(a) Pedestrians soliciting rides or business [Soliciting ride]
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Many people see this law in a state's statutes and assume it means hitchhiking is illegal (especially if the state has modified the wording to say 'no person shall hitchhike in a roadway'). This is not the case. A roadway is the driving lanes of a highway and in most cases does not include the shoulder of the road. See the exact definition of roadway below.
UVC § 11- 507(b) Pedestrians soliciting rides or business [Soliciting work, business, contributions]
No person shall stand on a highway for the purpose of soliciting employment, business, or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
As you will see in the terms below, the definition of the word 'highway' includes its shoulders. This means that it is illegal in most places throughout the USA to stand anywhere on a highway to ask for money.
UVC § 11- 512 Pedestrians under influence of alcohol or drugs
A pedestrian who is under the influence of alcohol or any drug to a degree which renders such pedestrian a hazard shall not walk or be upon a highway except on a sidewalk.
There are always cases of pedestrians who attempt to walk or hitchhike home while drunk. There are many reported deaths each year as a result of this (most occurring by locals within city or town limits). Stay off the road altogether while intoxicated. An officer will arrest you if it is believed you are under the influence while on a highway.
Definitions of common words in the code
UVC § 1-129 [§ 1-138] Highway
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.1
1By the above definition, the terms "street" and "highway" are synonymous and interchangeable.
UVC § 1-156 [§ 1-168] Pedestrian
Any person afoot.
UVC § 1-173 [§ 1-186] Roadway
That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder even though such sidewalk, berm or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles or other human powered vehicles. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways the term "roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.