My dad used to say that it was against the law to drive barefooted. When asked why, he said it was to protect our feet. Then again, my dad has always loved pulling people's legs... It's getting hot in south Texas again, and I'm finding myself kicking off my shoes while I'm driving.
So, mostly out of pure curiosity,
1. Is it REALLY against the law, in Texas, to drive barefooted?
2. If so, do you know the reasoning behind this law?
Personally, I think I get better traction with my middle-aged wrinkled foot skin, than I do with slippery shoe soles...
3. How is a law like that enforced... if it is a law?
Thanks.
2007-03-07 18:29:24 · 17 answers · asked by scruffycat 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Oh wow! A whole society devoted to the love of going barefoot!! What a great country! I've bookmarked the link! Thanks, Gina C.!
2007-03-07 18:54:48 · update #1
Interesting article, Sheriam. Thanks for the link. As far as being cited when pulled over for something else, not that it happens often, but when I've been pulled over for speeding, I always slip my feet back into shoes before the officer gets to my window... just in case.
2007-03-08 20:21:48 · update #2
Alright. Well, that makes 2 definite yeses (it IS illegal), 3 definite maybes, 6 probably nots, and 5 definitely nots.
Ok, working on a Best Answer for you.. and still looking for a definitive answer for me...
2007-03-09 22:11:54 · update #3
I got this information from www.barefooters.org, the Society for Barefoot Living. They could find no evidence of any state requiring subjects to wear shoes except when operating or riding on a motorcycle.
Alabama:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted. Exception: motorcycle rider.
Ohio:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted but not recommended.
California:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is not prohibited.
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.
District of Columbia
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.
American Territories
American Samoa, Peurto Rico, Virgin Islands: Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.
Guam:
Driving Barefoot: No information.
Canadien Provinces & Territories
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, New Foundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory: Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.
2007-03-07 18:43:11 · answer #1 · answered by Gina C 2 · 8⤊ 0⤋
The full regulations have already been quoted, so just a couple brief, additional things...
First the 'sharp pebble caught in the pedal' thing: this shouldn't be a problem to habitual barefooters. First of all my feet are tough enough I run over gravel and rocks, and I pick brambles barefoot, I don't flinch when I step on them so I wouldn't flinch when I stepped on a rock either. You'd also have to wear shoes to get it lodged in there in the first place; if you are always barefoot no such sharp pebble would get stuck in your foot without you noticing (I do *notice* rocks and thorns, they're just not hurting but it's not like I don't feel them at all) and then you'd jam it in there... only happens with shoe soles.
About people getting cited for driving barefoot; unfortunately, this myth is so wide-spread in the US that even some law enforcement officers believe it. If you ever get cited for it, don't just pay up at the county courthouse but let it come to court, if 'driving barefoot' is the only thing they named it WILL get thrown out since that isn't against the law, those pages are still accurate. I guess an officer who's really convinced he knows better than the State officials in what is or isn't safe could try to put it under another header like 'unsafe operating of a motor vehicle' or something; they can try to put almost anything under that header, but in this case it'd be good to know there are also many instances of driving instructors and cops who have told people that it's better to take loose footwear like flipflops or shoes with platform shoes *off* while driving.... if one of *them* is in a bad mood, they might cite you under the 'unsafe operating' thing if you've left them *on*. Now if you only knew which one of these guys was going to stop you.... :P Just last week there was an interesting article in an Australian newspaper that concluded bare feet were safer than flipflops and the like; might be a good link to bookmark and/or save (I don't know how long they keep their archives online).
2007-03-08 18:25:18 · answer #2 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.
2007-03-07 18:44:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it is not. In the 70's people were told to drive barefoot because with their platform shoes on they didn't have depth perception.
If it was a law...they would be able to write you a ticket for no shoes after they had already pulled you over for another moving offense.
Go to the link that i put in my source and search words that relate to the topic. You will find that no such law exists.
2007-03-08 04:50:45 · answer #4 · answered by antieverybody 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not aware of any law in Texas or anywhere else that requires you wear shoes while driving. However it would be a good idea if you live in an area where there are lots of sticker-burrs that might wind up in your carpet.
If you ride a motorcycle you should never ride barefoot--it could cost you your feet.
2007-03-07 18:38:40 · answer #5 · answered by Warren D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
9/15/2014 www.barefooters.org/driving/TX1994.txt
http://www.barefooters.org/driving/TX1994.txt 1/1
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
5805 N. LAMAR BLVD. - BOX 4087 - AUSTIN, TEXAS 78773-0001
512/465-2110
JAMES R. WILSON COMMISSION
DIRECTOR RONALD D. KRIST
CHAIRMAN
DUDLEY M. THOMAS ALBERT B. ALKEK
ASST. DIRECTOR ROBERT B. HOLT
COMMISIONERS
June 7, 1994
Mr. Jason R. Heimbaugh
R.R. 1 Box 120
Champain [sic], Illinois 61821
Dear Mr. Heimbaugh:
This will acknowledge receipt of your recent letter concerning
driving barefoot in Texas.
As your correspondence indicates, it is a common misconception
among many citizens that such action is illegal. However, there
is no law in Texas that forbids an individual to drive barefoot.
Sincerely,
Charles L. Graham, Major
Traffic Law Enforcement
CLG:jmp
COURTESY - SERVICE - PROTECTION
2014-09-15 05:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Note to everyone who answered before me. Its not Yahoo Guesses, its Yahoo Answers. Even the law enforcement reference is incorrect. The law is dependant by state and Texas permits barefoot driving.
2007-03-07 18:40:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know it is not illegal to drive barefoot in any state of the US.I learned this years ago in my 5 hour course and I asked the police officer that question(due to everyone told me it was illegal) and that is what he told me.You can even drive a motorcycle barefooted.
2007-03-08 05:25:48 · answer #8 · answered by Julie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I live in Michigan and it is illegal to drive barefooted so that website gina sent you must be incorrect. I've gotten a warning a couple of summers ago for driving barefooted.
2007-03-08 05:08:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm pretty sure that the law reads that you have to be "properly dressed", that's the law it falls under. No, they won't pull you over to check and see if you have shoes on, but if you are pulled over they may cite you for that.
2007-03-07 18:35:31 · answer #10 · answered by smoothie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋