Speeding laws
- The maximum speed limit is 70mph on highways and freeways, farm and ranch to market roads during daylight and 65mph during night hours.
- Alleys : 15mph
- Country roads: 15mph
- You will be charged for speeding depending on how many mph you were driving above the speed limit
- The fine varies in different municipalities, for example in Houston- 1 to 5mph over the speed limit will get you charged with a fine of $165. In Austin- 5 or less mph will get you charged $164 but if you pay up early it will be reduced to $143.
Senior Citizens Laws
- This Law is referred to as “Katie’s Law” which was named after Katie Bolka who was a 90yr old woman who while driving failed to see the red light at the intersection
- This law requires senior citizens above the age of 79 years to come in person to renew their driver’s license and take a mandatory eye test to ensure their eye sight is good, this license will hold good until they turn 85 years
- Drivers who turn 85 thereafter will have to renew their license every 2 years instead of 6 years.
Alcohol Driving Laws
- If your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level is .08% or higher you will be charged with drunken driving. The first time you will be charged a fine of $2000, driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days to a year and spend anywhere between 3-180 days in jail. The more you commit this offence the penalties of charge will only increase.
- If you are driving a child 15 or younger and are intoxicated, you will be charged with a fine no less than $10,000.
- For Commercial drivers, the permitted BAC level is .04%
- For minors under the age of 21, the permitted BAC level is .02% which means anyone underage who has had alcohol will be penalized.
- If an officer requests you to take a test to check your BAC and you refuse, your license can be suspended up to 90 days. This Law is referred to as the “Implied Consent Law”
Seat Belt Laws
- Everyone travelling in a car or any vehicle equipped with a seat belt should wear a seat belt regardless of age or where they are seated.
- All children aged 8 or younger will use a booster seat to be safely secured in the car
- All children who or 4.9” or shorter will also use a booster seat regardless of age.
- If these rules are not followed you can be pulled over by an officer and will receive a ticket for violating these laws and charged around $25-$50.
- Motor cycle drivers and passengers must wear safety helmets.
Cell phone Laws
- It is illegal to use cell phones in school zones while driving unless you are using a wireless device
- Text-messaging is also banned while driving.
- This is a primary enforcement law which means an officer can pull you over and you can get a ticket for violating this law.
- Drivers younger than 18 cannot use a cell phone while driving
Traffic Laws
- You must yield the “Right of Way” to pedestrians, emergency vehicles and school buses.
- You can turn right during a red signal unless sign boards say otherwise.
- You must always signal when you are going to change lanes, make a turn, pull away from a parking space, stopping or slowing the vehicle.
