Walk It Through: The Road Trip

The front seats and children belted, the highest degree of care, and a revoked license.

A teenage nephew and an adult friend climb into the back seat and leave their belts off.

Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.

One trip with a car full of friends. Child restraint rules by age and weight, stunt driving, and felony driving while revoked are not worked through here.

A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.

Words this turns on

Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.

Highest degree of careThe care every driver has to exercise, driving in a careful and prudent manner at a speed that does not endanger anyone. A violation is a class B misdemeanor.
Seat belt infractionA driver or front seat passenger not wearing a belt, an infraction with a fine of not more than ten dollars, no court costs and no points.
Class D misdemeanorThe lowest misdemeanor class, carrying a fine of up to five hundred dollars and no term of imprisonment in the table.
Driving while revokedOperating a motor vehicle on a highway when the license is cancelled, suspended or revoked, acting with criminal negligence about knowing it. A first violation is a class D misdemeanor.