Alabama From the Code of Alabama Section 32-5A-216
Pedestrian soliciting rides or business or fishing.
(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
(Don't ask about the fishing part. Just kidding...it refers to fishing from bridges, etc. Just sorta threw us the way it reads).
Chris Noftz
Internet Services
Alaska
(13) Walking being a tradtional way to travel in Alaska, must mean hitchhiking is ok unless posted. I am still waiting for official reply but this is what I have for now.
Arizona
Code 28-796 Pedestrian on roadways
A. If sidewalks are provided, a pedestrian shall not walk along and on an adjacent roadway.
B. If sidewalks are not provided, a pedestrian walking along and on a highway shall walk when practicable only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic that may approach from the opposite direction.
C. A person shall not stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of a vehicle.
Arkansas
Code 27-51-1205
It is illegal to hitch hike in Arkansas.
Bob Fisher
California
Code 21957
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
Colorado
(1) Pedestrians walking or traveling in a wheelchair along and upon highways where sidewalks are not provided shall walk or travel only on a road shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor road shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking or traveling in a wheelchair along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway and, in the case of a two-way roadway, shall walk or travel only on the left side of the roadway facing traffic that may approach from the opposite direction; except that any person lawfully soliciting a ride may stand on either side of such two-way roadway where there is a view of traffic approaching from both directions.
(2) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any private vehicle. For the purposes of this subsection
(2), "roadway" means that portion of the road normally used by moving motor vehicle traffic.
(3) It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of alcohol or of any controlled substance, as defined in section 12-22-303 (7), C.R.S., or of any stupefying drug to walk or be upon that portion of any highway normally used by moving motor vehicle traffic.
(4) This section applying to pedestrians shall also be applicable to riders of animals.
(5) Any city or town may, by ordinance, regulate the use by pedestrians of streets and highways under its jurisdiction to the extent authorized under subsection (6) of this section and sections 42-4-110 and 42-4-111, but no ordinance regulating such use of streets and highways in a manner differing from this section shall be effective until official signs or devices giving notice thereof have been placed as required by section 42-4-111 (2).
(6) No person shall solicit a ride on any highway included in the interstate system, as defined in section 43-2-101
(2), C.R.S., except at an entrance to or exit from such highway or at places specifically designated by the department of transportation; or, in an emergency affecting a vehicle or its operation, a driver or passenger of a disabled vehicle may solicit a ride on any highway.
(7) Pedestrians shall only be picked up where there is adequate road space for vehicles to pull off and not endanger and impede the flow of traffic.
Connecticut
Sec. 53-181 Soliciting rides in motor vehicles.
Any person who, while on or within the limits of the traveled portion of any public highway, solicits a ride in a motor vehicle, other than a public service motor bus or taxicab, except in case of accident or emergency, shall be deemed to have committed an infraction and be fined thirty-five dollars, except that any person may, while on or within the shoulder portion of any public highway, except a limited access highway, solicit such a ride.
Delaware
Code 4147 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business.
(a) No person shall stand in a highway for the purpose of soliciting any employment, business or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
(b) No person shall stand on or in proximity to a highway for the purpose of soliciting the watching or guarding of any vehicle while parking or about to be parked on a highway.
(c) No person shall stand in a highway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
(d) No person shall at any time be jailed solely for violation of subsection (c) of this section.
Florida
Code 316.130 (5)
No person shall stand in the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Georgia
COde 40-6-97
(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Hawaii
Pedestrians soliciting rides, business or attention of motorist.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by county ordinance, no person shall stand in, walk along, or otherwise occupy a portion of a highway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, business, or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
Idaho
49-709 PEDESTRIANS SOLICITING RIDES OR BUSINESS.
(1) No person shall stand on a highway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Illinois
5/11-1006 Sec. 11-1006 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business.
(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
Indiana
IC 9-21-17-16 Sec. 16.
A person may not stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from a person who drives a vehicle unless the person soliciting a ride is faced with an emergency on the roadway, in which case the person may secure a ride to obtain assistance.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.IC 9-21-8-20
Sec. 20.
The Indiana department of transportation may by resolution or order entered in its minutes, and local authorities may by ordinance, with respect to any freeway or interstate highway system under their respective jurisdictions, prohibit the use of a highway by pedestrians, bicycles, or other nonmotorized traffic or by a person operating a motor-driven cycle. The Indiana department of transportation or the local authority adopting a prohibiting regulation shall erect and maintain official signs on the freeway or interstate highway system on which the regulations are applicable. If signs are erected, a person may not disobey the restrictions stated on the signs.
Susan Dean, Sergeant
Indiana State Police
Executive Office
Iowa
321.331 Pedestrians soliciting rides.
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any private vehicle.
Nothing in this section or this chapter shall be construed so as to prevent any pedestrian from standing on that portion of the highway or roadway, not ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
Violation of this statute is a scheduled fine in the amount of ten dollars.
Sam Knowles, Bureau Chief
Program Services Bureau
Iowa Dept. of Public Safety
Kansas
Code 8-1538 Soliciting rides, business or contributions; exception.
(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Kentucky
Code 189.570 (19)
No person shall stand on a public roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Louisiana
Pedestrians soliciting rides or business
A. No person shall stand on a public roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Maine
Hitchhiking Forbidden
1. Definition. As used in this section, "hitchhike" means to endeavor by words, gestures or otherwise to beg, invite or secure transportation in a motor vehicle not engaged in carrying passengers for hire, unless the hitchhiker is known to the driver or a passenger.
2. Violation. A person commits a traffic infraction if that person hitchhikes on:
A. The traveled portion of a public way; [1993, c.
B. A limited access highway, including but not limited to the Maine Turnpike; or [1993
C. Any portion of a public way during the nighttime. [1993
3. Exception. This section does not prohibit solicitation of aid in the event of an accident or by persons who are sick or seeking assistance for the sick, if the sickness is bona fide and an emergency exists. [1993
4. Regulation. A municipality may regulate or prohibit hitchhiking on a public way by ordinance. The Department of Transportation may regulate or prohibit hitchhiking on a state or state aid highway in the interest of safety at those locations where accidents may be a problem, limited visibility exists or severe traffic conflicts or other safety factors may occur. [1993
5. Posting. An area in which hitchhiking has been regulated or prohibited must be clearly identified by posted signs. [1993
6. Forfeitures. For a violation of subsection 2, a forfeiture not to exceed may be adjudged. [1993.
Sgt. Jan Stetson Reynolds
Supervisor, Inspections Unit
Troop K
Maine State Police
20 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0020
207-624-8939
Maryland
Code 21-507 Certain activities by pedestrians prohibited.
(a) Soliciting rides, employment, or business.- Except for the occupant of a disabled vehicle who seeks the aid of another vehicle, a person may not stand in a roadway to solicit a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
(b) Soliciting persons to watch or guard vehicle.- A person may not stand on or near a highway to solicit any other person to watch or guard any vehicle while it is parked or about to be parked on a highway.
(c) Charles County.- In Charles County, a person may not stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle.
Massachusetts
Mass 81-A
An operator of a vehicle using the turnpike or the metropolitan highway system who refuses to pay the toll prescribed by the authority or who evades or attempts to evade payment of the toll prescribed by the authority may be arrested without a warrant. Whoever, for the purpose of soliciting a ride on the turnpike or the metropolitan highway system, displays a sign, signals a moving vehicle, causes the stopping of a vehicle or stands on property of the authority in view of a ramp or roadway of the turnpike may be arrested without a warrant and shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars. A person damaged in his property by the exercise of any of the powers granted by this chapter may recover his damages from the authority under chapter seventy-nine. Illegal to hitchhike on turn pikes.
Michigan
While there is not a state "hitchhiking" law in Michigan, there are several sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code that can apply to hitchhikers as pedestrians. A pedestrian is defined in section 257.39 as "any person afoot."
Section 257.655 states "Where sidewalks are provided, a pedestrian shall not walk upon the main traveled portion of the highway. Where sidewalks are not provided, pedestrians shall, when practicable, walk on the left side of the highway facing traffic which passes nearest."
Section 257.676b states "A person, without authority, shall not block, obstruct, impede, or otherwise interfere with the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic upon a public street or highway in this state, by means of a barricade, object, or device, or with his or her person." This could include causing a vehicle to stop in the roadway to pick up the pedestrian, if it interferes with the flow of traffic.
Section 257.679a states "...nor shall a pedestrian...be permitted on a limited access highway in this state." Pedestrians are not permitted on any limited access highway (freeway), including the entrance and exit ramps.
Finally, section 7.13 of the Uniform Traffic Code for Cities, Townships and Villages expressly prohibits hitchhiking within the limits of any municipality that has adopted the code as a local ordinance, stating "A person shall not stand in the roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle." A municipality that has not adopted the code may also have an ordinance against hitchhiking.
I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to contact me if you require additional information.
Sgt. Lance R. Cook
Michigan State Police
Traffic Services Section
Vehicle Code Unit
(517) 336-6660
Minnesota
169.22 Hitchhiking; solicitation of business.
Subdivision 1. Soliciting ride. No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any private vehicle.
Jack Jarpe, Consumer Protection Division
Office of Mike Hatch, Attorney General
State of Minnesota
www.ag.state.mn.us
consumer.ag@state.mn.us
Mississippi
Code 63-3-1109 Solicitation of rides by pedestrians.
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any private vehicle.
Missouri
As long as the hitchhiker does not impede the flow of traffic or interfere with the traffic it is permitted. There are laws which prohibit camping in rest areas.
Thank you
Public Information and Education Division
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Reply To: mshppied@mail.state.mo.us
Montana
Code 61-8-507
1. No person shall stand on a public roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Nebraska
Code 60-6,157 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business; prohibited act:
(1) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, contributions, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Nevada
NRS 484.331 Section 3
A person shall not stand in a highway to solicit a ride or any business from the driver or any occupant of a vehickle.
NRS 484.065
Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way dedicated to a puplic authority when any part of the way is open to the use of the public for purpose of vehicular traffic, whether or not the public authority is maintaining the way.
Office of the Attoney General
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711
775-684-4602
New Hampshire
Code 265:40 Pedestrians Soliciting Rides or Business.
I. No person shall stand on the travelled portion of a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, business or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
II. No person shall stand on or in proximity to the traveled portion of a street or way for the purpose of soliciting the watching or guarding of any vehicle while parked or about to be parked on a street or way.
III. It shall be lawful for any person to hitchhike or solicit a ride from the occupant of any vehicle upon any road or way, or limited access road and highway provided that the individual is not, when so doing, standing on the paved portion of the road or way.
IV. No person shall signal a moving vehicle or stop a vehicle on any public way in order to solicit or sell a ticket of admission to an entertainment or sports event.
New Jersey
Code 39:4-59 Begging rides prohibited
No person shall stand in a highway for the purpose of or while soliciting a ride from the operator of any vehicle other than an omnibus or a street car.
New Mexico
Code 66-7-340 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business.
A. No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
New York
New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law:
TextSection 1157. Pedestrians soliciting rides, or business.
(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, or to solicit from or sell to an occupant of any vehicle.
NYSP - Traffic Services Unit
North Carolina
N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-175. Pedestrians soliciting rides, employment, business or funds upon highways or streets
(a) No person shall stand in any portion of the State highways, except upon the shoulders thereof, for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any motor vehicle.
(b) No person shall stand or loiter in the main traveled portion, including the shoulders and median, of any State highway or street, excluding sidewalks, or stop any motor vehicle for the purpose of soliciting employment, business or contributions from the driver or occupant of any motor vehicle that impedes the normal movement of traffic on the public highways or streets: Provided that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to licensees, employees or contractors of the Department of Transportation or of any municipality engaged in construction or maintenance or in making traffic or engineering surveys.
(c) Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1330, s. 39.
OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE IN CONFLICT WITH SECTION. --A municipal ordinance which authorized the sale of newspapers and merchandise at intersectional traffic islands was in conflict with this section, to the extent that the ordinance purported to authorize acts resulting in the impeding of the normal flow of traffic on the public highways. See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. J.M. Lynch, P.E., State Traffic Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation, 59 N.C.A.G. 45 (1989).
ACTS NOT CONSTITUTING VIOLATION OF SECTION. --Standing or loitering on the main traveled portion of the highway and soliciting employment, business or contributions from the driver or occupant of a motor vehicle does not constitute a violation of this section if the acts do not result in impeding the normal movement of traffic. See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. Carl V. Venters, 41 N.C.A.G. 528 (1971). Isaac Avery, III
North Dakota
NDCC 39-10-34
No person may stand in a roadway (in this state that includes the shoulder) for the purpose of soliciting a ride.
Liz Brocker
Executive Assistant/PIO
ND Office of Attorney General
(701) 328-2210
lbrocker@state.nd.us
Ohio
[4511.05.1] 4511.051 Prohibitions on use of freeways.
No person, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:
(A) As a pedestrian, occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, except: in a rest area; on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for pedestrian use; in the performance of public works or official duties; as a result of an emergency caused by an accident or breakdown of a motor vehicle; or to obtain assistance;
(B) Occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, with: an animal-drawn vehicle; a ridden or led animal; herded animals; a pushcart; a bicycle, except on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for bicycle use; a bicycle with motor attached; a motor driven cycle with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower; an agricultural tractor; farm machinery; except in the performance of public works or official duties.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma only prohibits hitchhiking on turnpikes. Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47, Section 11-1401, subsection D, states:
D. It shall be unlawful for any person to travel a turnpike on foot except to leave or service a disabled vehicle, or for any person to hitchhike on a turnpike.
Oklahoma has an extensive turnpike system. A map is available online at the Oklahoma Transportation Authority's website:
http://www.ota.state.ok.us/
In addition, there are certain highways where "motorist beware" signs have been posted by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation because of the close proximity of federal or state prisons and the possibility of hitchhikers being escaped inmates. One location I can recall at the moment
is on Interstate 40 near El Reno, about 30 miles west of Oklahoma City.
These would no doubt be problem areas for hitchhikers.
If I can be of any further assistance to you in this matter, please feel free to contact me again.
David Beatty
Legislative and Special Projects Manager
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Oregon
(Roadway Use)
814.060 Failure to use pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing; penalty
814.070 Improper position upon or improperly proceeding along highway; penalty
814.080 Unlawful hitchhiking; penalty
814.090 Unlawful solicitation on or near highway; penalty
Pennsylvania
Code 601.11. Hitchhiking.
The solicitation for a ride, commonly known as hitchhiking is prohibited, and stopping or allowing a vehicle to be standing while hitchhikers board is also prohibited.
Rhode Island
Code 31-18-12 Hitchhiking in road.
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
South Carolina
Pedestrians soliciting rides or business. Pedestrians prohibited on freeways.
(A) No person as a pedestrian, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, shall occupy any space within the limits of the roadway and shoulder of the main facility of a freeway, except to perform public works or official duties, as a result of an emergency caused by an accident or breakdown of a motor vehicle, or to obtain assistance.
The prohibitions imposed by this subsection on the use of freeways do not apply to service roads alongside the highways.
(B) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.
Captain Michael J. Tucker
Highway Patrol Headquarters
5400 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
Ofc: (803) 896-8133
Fax: (803) 896-7922
Tucker_MichaelJ@scdps.state.sc.us
South Dakota
Code 32-27-5
Highways without sidewalks -- Duty to walk facing traffic -- Violation as petty offense. Where sidewalks are not provided any pedestrian walking along or upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. A violation of this section is a petty offense.
The only thing I could find on South Dakota.
Tennessee
Code 0400-2-2-.04. BEGGING AND SOLICITING.
(1) Begging is prohibited.
(2) Hitchhiking or the soliciting of transportation is prohibited.
(3) Commercial soliciting of any kind without a permit is prohibited: provided, that this section shall not apply to transactions with authorized concessioners.
TENNESSEE RULES AND REGULATIONS
0400. TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
0400-2. DIVISION OF STATE PARKS
CHAPTER 0400-2-2. PUBLIC USE AND RECREATION
Texas
Code 552.007. Solicitation by Pedestrians
(a) A person may not stand in a roadway to solicit a ride, contribution, employment, or business from an occupant of a vehicle, except that a person may stand in a roadway to solicit a charitable contribution if authorized to do so by the local authority having jurisdiction over the roadway.
Utah
Code 41-6-82 (4)
A person may not sit, stand, or loiter in or near a roadway for the purpose of soliciting from the occupant of any vehicle a ride, contributions, employment, the parking, watching, or guarding of a vehicle, or other business.
Vermont
Highway solicitations.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no person may stand within the roadway of a highway as defined in subdivision (32) of section 4 of this title for the purpose of soliciting a ride, contributions, employment or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Sylvia Martin
VSP Webmaster
Virginia
Code 46.2-929 Pedestrians soliciting rides.
Pedestrians shall not stand or stop in any roadway for the purpose of soliciting rides.
Washington
RCW 46.61.255 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business.
(1) No person shall stand in or on a public roadway or alongside thereof at any place where a motor vehicle cannot safely stop off the main traveled portion thereof for the purpose of soliciting a ride for himself or for another from the occupant of any vehicle.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit a ride for himself or another from within the right of way of any limited access facility except in such areas where permission to do so is given and posted by the highway authority of the state, county, city or town having jurisdiction over the highway.
(3) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) above shall not be construed to prevent a person upon a public highway from soliciting, or a driver of a vehicle from giving a ride where an emergency actually exists, nor to prevent a person from signaling or requesting transportation from a passenger carrier for the purpose of becoming a passenger thereon for hire.
(4) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting employment or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
(5) No person shall stand on or in proximity to a street or highway for the purpose of soliciting the watching or guarding of any vehicle while parked or about to be parked on a street or highway.
(6)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the state preempts the field of the regulation of hitchhiking in any form, and no county, city, or town shall take any action in conflict with the provisions of this section.
(b) A county, city, or town may regulate or prohibit hitchhiking in an area in which it has determined that prostitution is occurring and that regulating or prohibiting hitchhiking will help to reduce prostitution in the area. Hitchhiking is not permitted where signs prohibit it or on limited access freeways (I-5). See RCW 46.61.255
Webmaster - Questions
Government and Media Relations
Washington State Patrol
questions@wsp.wa.gov
West Virginia
Code 17C-10-6. Pedestrians on roadways; soliciting rides.
(a) Where sidewalks are provided it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
(b) Where sidewalks are not provided any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall when practicable walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction.
(c) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
Code 17C-10-7 Penalty for pedestrians violating the provisions of this article.
Any person violating the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars; upon a second conviction within one year thereafter, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars; and upon a third or subsequent conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
Wisconsin
Code 346.29 When standing or loitering in roadway or highway prohibited.
346.29(1)
(1) No person shall be on a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the operator of any vehicle other than a public passenger vehicle.
346.29(2)
(2) No person shall stand or loiter on any roadway other than in a safety zone if such act interferes with the lawful movement of traffic.
346.29(3)
(3) No person shall be on a bridge or approach thereto for the purpose of utilizing such bridge or approach for fishing or swimming when signs have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway indicating that fishing or swimming off of such bridge or approach is prohibited.
346.30 Penalty for violating sections 346.23 to 346.29.
346.30(1)
(1)
346.30(1)(a)
(a) Any pedestrian violating s. 346.23, 346.24 (2), 346.25, 346.28 or 346.29 may be required to forfeit not less than nor more than for the first offense and not less than nor more than for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
Sgt. William A. Harley
Wisconsin State Patrol
Division Hqs, Madison
(608) 267-4590
william.harley@dot.state.wi.us
Wyoming
Code 31-5-606 Soliciting on streets and highways.
(a) No person shall be on a highway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, business or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle. This
subsection does not apply to persons attempting to obtain assistance for disabled vehicles.
Sgt. S. Townsend
Wyoming Highway Patrol
Law on Hitching in the USA
Please Read
