Most car-related laws are in place to keep us safe. Some, however, are just plain annoying. Here are ten laws that you think should be rethought.
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10. Pedestrian Impact Laws
Suggested By: CABEZAGRANDE
Why It's Bad: No, government, I really do love having a stubby, awkwardly proportioned nose on my car. And pop-up headlights? Nah, never cared for those awesome things anyway. As CABEZAGRANDE so astutely noted, "No matter what you do, a 2500-pound-plus chunk of metal hitting a human is going to severely damage the human." I'll take my wedge-shaped sports car back now, thank you very much.
Photo credit: Automobiles Review
9. The Five-Second Stop Rule
Suggested By: LastActionZero
Why It's Bad: In Florida and a host of other states, motorists are required to come to a complete stop at stop signs for five seconds. That's safe, and in the greater scheme of things, not that big a hassle. Think of it like a '"stop and go" penalty. What is bad is that, in Florida, the cop sitting behind a bush on the other side of the intersection doesn't need to use a stopwatch or any kind of official timing device to make sure your five seconds are the same as his five seconds. Maybe it's a time-zone thing, but somehow I feel like there shouldn't be that big a difference between the length of seconds from one side of an intersection to another.
Photo credit: saynine, flickr
8. Unsightly Property Acts
Suggested By: Ethan Moss
Why It's Bad: I like having a nice-looking lawn. If I had the space, I'd also like a parts car for quick and easy access. Depending on where I live though, the two may be mutually exclusive. Under these laws, anything that's non-operational can be ticketed or towed. Now, if the lawn looks like a competitor for the local junkyard, then fine, cart it all away. But if it's just one soon-to-be project car or half a donor vehicle, then I think it deserves some time to get itself together.
Photo credit: Wayward Garage
7. Full-Serve Gas
Suggested By: eaglescout1984
Why It's Bad: It's illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey and Oregon. Is it weird that I enjoy pumping my own gas? I like the brief pause in motion and noise, the quiet peace of the gas station (especially at night), and the opportunity to stretch my legs during a long drive. New Jersey and Oregon, why must you deny me these simple pleasures? To create jobs? OK, how about leaving some of the pumps self-serve? Is that really too much to ask?
Photo credit: PRNewswire
6. Tractor-Trailer Maximum Speed
Suggested By: jayway
Why It's Bad: Now really, California, who thought this was a good idea? Slowing down the biggest things on the road so that they're reduced to nothing but rolling chicanes is not a good idea. Slow down trucks, you slow down the rest of traffic. Slow down the rest of traffic, and you end up with standstills like... well, like California's. Most of the state is a mobile parking lot. Point proven.
Photo credit: FleetOwner
5. Artificially Low Speed Limits
Suggested By: luisthebeast
Why It's Bad: But what happens when you take California's tractor-trailer speed limit and expand it to cover everybody? Definite slow-downs. When it's safe to travel at a much higher speed than you would in an urban area, you should be able to do so. Let the cops do a better job looking out for folks not wearing seat belts, not those of us doing 10 or 15 mph over the limit, on a bright, clear day, on a four-lane stretch of blacktop that's as straight as an arrow!
Photo credit: Trapster.com
4. Illegal Radar Detectors
Suggested By: Novaload
Why It's Bad: Like lowering the pitcher's mound in 1969, banning the humble radar detector is meant to "level the playing field" and "make things fair" for the "cop who's just trying to do his job" by "nailing you for going five miles per hour over the speed limit." Dammit, if I want my Valentine One to go off like a bomb whenever there's any hint of anything even remotely resembling radar, then I should have that right!
Photo credit: RadarBusters.com
3. No Right Turn On Red
Suggested By: British_Looks_British_Reliability
Why It's Bad: Coming from a town where this law was in effect everywhere, the first time I sat at a red light with my right blinker on and got honked at, my world changed. What? You mean I can proceed? It was a life-altering experience. And now that I've seen the light, driving back home is a pain. For those of you still tortured by No Right On Red tyranny, know that I feel your pain.
Photo credit: M.V. Jantzen, flickr
2. "Gray Market" Importation
Suggested By: zacarious
Why It's Bad: Speaking of rights, I think the enthusiast should have the right to import whatever insane piece of European, Japanese, or Australian sheet metal they want. Forget this 25-year exemption business, I want an R34 Skyline, and I want it now! The same goes for an RS6 wagon, a Focus RS, and any number of other neat things that we're all temped by daily but can (almost) never have (legally).
1. Red Light Cameras
Suggested By: add_liteness
Why It's Bad: Running red lights is bad. Slamming on your brakes when the light is yellow to avoid a ticket is worse. In Chicago, accident rates at intersections with red light cameras shot up after they were installed. How about making the yellow longer, government? That'll give us more time to stop and reduce accidents. Or just keep the cameras installed and continue taking our hard-earned cash. Even better — turn off the cameras altogether and make them into bird houses!
Photo credit: The Washington Post