With the first major driving holiday of the summer season approaching, the folks at the National Motorists Association (www.motorists.org) have analyzed the laws across the country to determine the best and the worst states when it comes to exploiting the motoring public.
These state rankings were calculated by the NMA using 17 criteria related to specific traffic laws, enforcement practices, and the treatment of traffic ticket defendants. The rankings are designed to provide guidance to travelers who do not want their vacation ruined by speed traps, arcane laws or “kangaroo” traffic courts.
State Rankings From Worst To Best1) New Jersey2) Ohio3) Maryland4) Louisiana5) New York6) Illinois7) Delaware8) Virginia9) Washington (State)10) Massachusetts11) Colorado12) Oregon13) Tennessee14) California15) Michigan16) Vermont17) Maine18) Florida19) Pennsylvania20) North Carolina21) Alabama22) Rhode Island23) West Virginia24) New Hampshire25) Arizona26) New Mexico27) Missouri28) Texas29) Oklahoma30) Nevada31) Georgia32) Connecticut33) South Carolina34) Iowa35) Hawaii36) Arkansas37) Alaska38) Kansas39) Mississippi40) Wisconsin41) Utah42) South Dakota43) Indiana44) Minnesota45) North Dakota46) Kentucky47) Nebraska48) Montana49) Idaho50) Wyoming
List of Criteria Used To Generate Rankings (in no particular order)1) Speed Traps Per Capita (Number of speed traps listed on www.speedtrap.org, indexed to population)2) Does the state have "driver responsibility" fees?3) Does the state have mayor's courts?4) Does the state authorize the use of roadblocks?5) What are the freeway speed limits?6) Does the state have red-light cameras?7) Does the state have speed cameras?8) Are there toll roads in the state?9) Is a jury trial available for traffic violations?10) Is trial by declaration (asserting a defense in writing without appearing in court) available?11) Is the state a member of the Non-Resident Violator Compact?12) Is the state a member of the Driver's License Compact?13) Are radar detectors banned in the state?14) Does the state have a primary seat belt law?15) Are there adult helmet laws in the state?16) Are there move-over laws in the state?17) Is cell phone use banned?
(Courtesy National Motorists Association)