The most comprehensive, up-to-date legal guide for HH in USA

[TheWindAndRain]

I have spent several days compiling detailed information from legal codes available online. The final product is the most comprehensive and up-to-date legal guide on hitchhiking in America for all 50 states that is currently available anywhere online. All the information is published on http://hitchwiki.org/en. Type a state in the search engine in the top right to pull up a page for that state.

Please contribute any additional information you may have to these articles! If you find any official information on hitchhiking laws in South Dakota or Missouri especially, submit it! I was unable to find any laws pertaining to hitchhiking in those states.

A few interesting facts in this guide that seem to be overlooked elsewhere on the internet:

Hawaii: Hitchhiking prohibited unless on Oahu

Kansas: While state law allows hitchhiking off roadways, all cities outside Wyandotte county have adopted city statutes completely prohibiting hitchhiking.

Tennessee: Illegal to hitchhike in State Parks.

Wisconsin: Illegal to hitchhike from sidewalk.


Hopefully this information will soon be included in the Digihitch law guides for the United States which are currently incomplete.

Enjoy!

[brotherjohn]

Good job man, great info! I know just about any place where there is a prison nearby there is no HHing which why it might be a county thing inside a "legal" state

[TheWindAndRain]

Actually it is not illegal to hitchhike around those signs. Most of the signs just say "do not pick up hitchhikers." If you get stuck by one of these, hold your thumb out right next to the sign and eventually a cop will give you a ride. This has worked for me twice.

[Nomadinexile]

I like the wiki page but there is a glaring error. In the u.s., police have a legal right to identify anyone, anywhere, and anytime. I would not recommend anyone refusing to be identified, as they then have the right to detain you to verify your identity. This may be morally deplorable IMO, but within their legal rights as laws currently stand. Some state laws may not allow this, but the Supreme Court has upheld states versions of these laws. Good luck and stay safe out there! Ps. Police may enforce laws that don't exist. At this point you have two choices. A. Take ticket or get arrested and fight in court. Or b. try to find a work around. Ex. On my recent trip from Oregon to Texas, two imperial county sheriffs argued for 15 minutes on side of highway 86 north of brawely, ca. When i realized the argument was escalating to the point of violence or arrest, I conceded defeat and spent the $1 for the bus to el centro where I continued by thumb. The choice is yours, but some cops are dangerous, and you could be beaten, tasered, pepper sprayed, etc. all the cops have to say is you attacked them, then you get a serious felony, prison sentence, and every cop who runs your I'd after will hate you. Some will plant drugs on you as well, ive witnessed that. Be careful out there!

[Fruupp]

I like the wiki page but there is a glaring error. In the u.s., police have a legal right to identify anyone, anywhere, and anytime. I would not recommend anyone refusing to be identified, as they then have the right to detain you to verify your identity. This may be morally deplorable IMO, but within their legal rights as laws currently stand. Some state laws may not allow this, but the Supreme Court has upheld states versions of these laws. Good luck and stay safe out there! Ps. Police may enforce laws that don't exist. At this point you have two choices. A. Take ticket or get arrested and fight in court. Or b. try to find a work around. Ex. On my recent trip from Oregon to Texas, two imperial county sheriffs argued for 15 minutes on side of highway 86 north of brawely, ca. When i realized the argument was escalating to the point of violence or arrest, I conceded defeat and spent the $1 for the bus to el centro where I continued by thumb. The choice is yours, but some cops are dangerous, and you could be beaten, tasered, pepper sprayed, etc. all the cops have to say is you attacked them, then you get a serious felony, prison sentence, and every cop who runs your I'd after will hate you. Some will plant drugs on you as well, ive witnessed that. Be careful out there!

The police only have the right to identify you IF they suspect you have committed or have aided and abetted in a crime. They must show probable cause to stop or detain you. You are under no obligation to show ID or identify yourself nor do you have to carry ID if you re an adult. You only have to ask "Am I under arrest" and the officer must reply 'Yes' or No'. If he replies no then excuse yourself politely and walk away. There is nothing further the cop can legally do. This is the law nation wide.

However, if you are standing on a ramp in a state that does not permit hitch-hiking such as NJ or WY then they have the right to approach you and ask for ID as your presence on the ramp has already given them their probable cause. As we all know, cops can be real jerks and they can and do break the law themselves by detaining people under false pretenses. They can be dangerous and can plant drugs and the like on your person or in your bag to give them the legal right to arrest you. Sometimes you have to weigh up the situation and the cop and decide whether you want to stand up for your rights and face the possible wrath of the cop or just identify yourself to get the cop out of your face but it is YOUR choice and not that of the cop.

Do not be fooled into showing ID as you are protected under your legal rights against such things, all States, no exceptions.

Fruupp