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Driving Barefooted???

5K views 34 replies 25 participants last post by  s14sh3r 
#1 ·
With the summer coming up I am wondering if it's legal to drive barefooted. I live in Mississippi and when it gets hot enough to only wear gym shorts and a tshirt most people wear flip flops and chacos etc. which I hate wearing mostly because I don't think it's very safe driving in flip flops. So I'm wondering if I can get away with wearing no shoes. (Note: the doors would be off so a cop could see that I'm barefoot if I am.) Also the cops here don't enforce really well so I bet I could but as always I wanna keep it legal. :thumb:
 
#2 ·
I don't see why it would illegal? I mean I wouldn't let it stop you. I live in nc and I drive without shoes on all the time and I've never had a problem. My doors are off too. And I mean if a cop pulls you over for that then they are just a @#$%. That's like pulling someone over for window tint but worse ha
 
#9 ·
Where at in Mississippi? I'm from Long Beach.
And I do this all the time for the same reason. I'm a lifeguard in the summer so flip flops are on my feet everyday and I agree that it feels unsafe to drive in them. I usually just kick them off when I get in and put them on when I get out. Never had trouble with the cops. But like said before just keep a pair of flip flops close by if it is actually illegal (I still haven't checked of it is or not here haha)
 
#10 ·
Driving barefoot isnt illegal in Tx.

I love hanging a foot out the edge of the door and enjoying the breeze.

Cargo shorts....no further comment.

I like going doorless. :)

Keep in mind, flip flops tucked under the seat might blow away.

As stated above...each state has different laws. What some permit, others might not.

But if you are in a state that thinks driving barefoot is unsafe...you should move to a state that allows you to think for yourself.
 
#11 ·
^^ Good point there. Ha I seriously doubt it is in Mississippi. And if it is the cops don't care. I even asked a cop if my KC lights needed to be moved one night when I got pulled over. They are very clearly about 20" above the legal height, he said they were fine. (BTW, he pulled me over for "suspected trespassing" after I came off my girlfriend's property late at night, I say he was bored)
 
#13 ·
I prefer driving barefoot since I mostly wear sandals outside of work. I seriously doubt it's illegal in most states. I assume there would be too much room to argue on what's proper foot ware for driving. However, I'm no Johnny law so check your local listings.

& no pun intended for the above user name /\
 
#14 ·
EDIT FROM WIKI:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot

It is not illegal to drive a motor vehicle while barefoot. Some people speculate that driving barefoot increases the risk of an accident if bare feet slip off the pedals.[62] It is legal throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to drive barefoot.[62][63][64] However, in some jurisdictions, police officers may ticket you for other things if the fact that you were driving barefoot or in flip-flops/high heeled shoes hindered your driving and/or resulted in an accident.[65]
 
#16 ·
Heres a link I found with your answer. Appears its only 100% legal in Alabama, Ohio, and California.

Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?
Yeah I saw that article too. Funny thing is all the states that's its "legal" (AL, CA, OH) in were said to be illegal on all the other sites. And where she says it's "legal" all the other sites said its illegal. So I discounted her information because it was literally exactly backwards. I think she got confused.
 
#15 ·
Got bored so I looked it up. All sites I saw said it was legal. I kinda figured we wouldn't have a law like that anyway.
 
#20 ·
I can tell you that even if it was illegal, the LEO would be laughed out of court if he / she charged it. I have heard for years it was illegal in NC. I have looked in the Chapt. 20 general statute's for NC and I have found no mention of barefoot driving.

I drive quite a bit barefoot in the summer cause I don't think driving with flip flops is safe.
 
#21 ·
All I ever where are flip flops unless i'm headed to the gym. I have had the heal of the flip flop get caught on the floorboard a few times while breaking. I feel safer barefoot but the clutch feels weird. I wish the pedal was a bigger.
 
#22 ·
Having been a brother of the badge and an instructor for quite a while, I must reluctantly admit that cops......are people too. And although MOST departments work very hard to screen out candidates who are...abnormal...there are always a few who make it through the process or develop bad habbits at some point along their career.

Unfortunately, that sometimes means that an officer might be enough of an egotist that they allow their personal preferences and values to seep into their duties. Some might say something is illegal, when it is not a formal statute or ordinance, just to flex their perceived authority. I've even seen a couple of officers over the years who have gone so far as to issue a citation, and go to court, and be informed by the defense counsel that there was no such law.

Three possibilities exist in such a scenario: 1) Officer just made s__t up, and didnt think the citizen would challenge the citation. 2) Officer misinterpreted "his understanding" of what could be a poorly or vaguely written statute which allows for "officer discretion" (I hate those). 3) Officer just didnt know.

On the flip side....there is, of course, always the potential for completely assinine laws to exist on the books, and while a good officer might shake their head and choose not to enforce legislative idiocy...another officer might be having a bad day or need to flex his ego or be bored or for whatever reason he might decided that you win the prize and get to be the guy who gets legitimately cited for an obscure offense.

Some folks wave those off as "technicalities" but you'll find that the term "technicality" and "Rule or law"are interchangable dependant upon which side of the courtroom you are sitting in.

In short...find, print, and read and know your states motor vehicle laws. If you encounter an officer who you think is citing you incorrectly (you are people too and could be wrong just as easily as he) just go with it, dont argue or get all bowed-up. The only thing more dangerous than a bored cop is a pissed-off police officer. Take the citation, followup with the patrol supervisor the following day, and with the court if need-be.

the moral to all of this.... not every "law" quoted by cops...is real.

In fairness to the profession, a vaaaast majority of officers truely do try to do the right thing and not abuse the powers that are afforded to them by the citizens of their community.

Sadly, there are still some of these out there and even ONE is too many:

Cartman Respect My Authoritah - South Park - YouTube
 
#24 ·
Having been a brother of the badge and an instructor for quite a while, I must reluctantly admit that cops......are people too. And although MOST departments work very hard to screen out candidates who are...abnormal...there are always a few who make it through the process or develop bad habbits at some point along their career.

Unfortunately, that sometimes means that an officer might be enough of an egotist that they allow their personal preferences and values to seep into their duties. Some might say something is illegal, when it is not a formal statute or ordinance, just to flex their perceived authority. I've even seen a couple of officers over the years who have gone so far as to issue a citation, and go to court, and be informed by the defense counsel that there was no such law.

Three possibilities exist in such a scenario: 1) Officer just made s__t up, and didnt think the citizen would challenge the citation. 2) Officer misinterpreted "his understanding" of what could be a poorly or vaguely written statute which allows for "officer discretion" (I hate those). 3) Officer just didnt know.

On the flip side....there is, of course, always the potential for completely assinine laws to exist on the books, and while a good officer might shake their head and choose not to enforce legislative idiocy...another officer might be having a bad day or need to flex his ego or be bored or for whatever reason he might decided that you win the prize and get to be the guy who gets legitimately cited for an obscure offense.

Some folks wave those off as "technicalities" but you'll find that the term "technicality" and "Rule or law"are interchangable dependant upon which side of the courtroom you are sitting in.

In short...find, print, and read and know your states motor vehicle laws. If you encounter an officer who you think is citing you incorrectly (you are people too and could be wrong just as easily as he) just go with it, dont argue or get all bowed-up. The only thing more dangerous than a bored cop is a pissed-off police officer. Take the citation, followup with the patrol supervisor the following day, and with the court if need-be.

the moral to all of this.... not every "law" quoted by cops...is real.

In fairness to the profession, a vaaaast majority of officers truely do try to do the right thing and not abuse the powers that are afforded to them by the citizens of their community.

Sadly, there are still some of these out there and even ONE is too many:

Cartman Respect My Authoritah - South Park - YouTube
Awesome reply!

Being a cop in FL, it's not illegal here and I do it all the time.
 
#23 ·
Local police stations have a non-emergency number you can call. I call it whenever i have a question like this such as tint level and stuff. Havent called on this one so i cant say anything on it yet. But if your really curious just give them a call, ive done it a couple times haha its what theyre there for!
 
#29 ·
I have worked in law enforcement since 1990 in the military and civilian police departments. Generally, it is some stupid local ordinance that the city council passes that is reference in the barefoot driving. Personally, I would never enforce a law that infringes on the freedom of individuals and doesn't endanger the safety of the general public. I'd like to see some sort of study that proves driving barefoot is more dangerous than having tennis shoes, etc., unless you/re using Armor All on your brake pedal. SMH
 
#30 ·
I agree with you completely. To me I feel like the reason for shoes might be compared to seatbelts. They don't do much for you during normal driving, but offer substantial protection in an accident. Same with a helmet and long sleeve gear on a motor cycle. Some of that is required by law, some isn't. Personally people can do whatever. I just think that might be the reason behind the law as far as the origin goes. People are gona do what they want, and that includes driving barefoot. It does seem silly to make it a law.
 
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