I've heard hitchiking is illegal

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Doug.38PR

Moderator
I see people in Texas with their thumb up all the time, but I've heard it is illegal in many states not only for bums to try it but for drivers to even pick them up.

I can understand in this day and age of so many lunatics out there the prudence behind not picking somebody up and even passing a law forbidding bums from trying it. BUT, why should somebody be punished by the law if they choose to take a risk and be charitable to some poor bum on the road side? (regardless of how risky that might be these days)
 
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There are a lot of things that are legal in Texas that you can't do anywhere else.

Most places, hitchhiking is a misdemeanor. It gives the cops a reason to run a hitchhiker in whom they believe is being a nuisance, give him a background check, etc... It also keeps the overt panhandling down to a minimum on the interstate exits and heavy traffic areas.
 
The government passes a lot of laws in an effort to protect people they feel don’t know what’s best for them. In nyc they’re trying to pass a law saying that you can’t cross the street talking on a cell phone… I personally think we should follow Darwin, if you can’t manage talking on a cell phone and crossing the street you deserve to get hit by the 18 wheelers, shouldn’t pass a law making it illegal… It’s the same with seatbelt laws, and smoking taxes, they want to lightly push people into a safer life style, I think this is why they don’t want hitchhiking legal. That’s my .02
 
In NYS it's illegal. It can be dangerous for both. For example a guy picks up a female passenger -she says give me money or I'll scream assault or plain robbery or carjacking .Hitchhiker could be armed , criminal, on drugs or crazy....The driver may be rapist ,murderer etc. Want to gamble ???
 
This is interesting, I didn't know this.
Now surely there must be a loophole here. I am thinking that the term hitch-hiker must be defined, yes? I mean if you pick your friend up outside a mall, then he isn't a hitcher, is he? Right, what if you stop at the scene of a breakdown. You try to help the motorist but you can't get him started. So you give him a lift. That's not a hitcher, right?
Okay, let's say you are driving down a road and pass a vehicle with its hood up on the side of the road. Nobody is with the vehicle. You then see a dude walking further on, and you suppose it may be the guy who is broken down. If you give him a lift is that hitching?
Are there grey areas? Sorry to be so curious, but this no hitching is a very alien concept to me.
 
"Are there grey areas? Sorry to be so curious, but this no hitching is a very alien concept to me."

The way I hear it, a common way to get around anti-hitchhiking laws is simply to stand by the side of the road watching oncoming traffic but not putting your thumb out. Where I live hitchhiking is not illegal, and I often see young girls doing it. Whenever I do, I try to make a mental note of the date, time, and description, just on the offhand chance that I'm one of the last people to see her alive.

Tim
 
Nothing. This isn't the General Discussion Forum.

Legal & Political Forum: Round table discussions range from the Bill of Rights, to concealed carry, to general political issues.
 
Enforcement varies

Frome place to place. Some states hitchiking is not illegal (although risky behavior) on secondary roads, but prohibited on the interstates (freeways). You see people by the on ramp, but not on the side of the freeway. I can understand that from a safety point of view.

Otherwise, it is kind of like the old vagarancy laws. Something the police can use to check you out if they feel like it.
 
Hitchhiking was made illegal in many states over a number of years.

In some states, it was to protect well-meaning citizens from vagrants and bums who might attempt to rob them. It gave police a means by which to check up on "vagrants" and/or other people who obviously had no means to pay for bus or train fare. Originally it was simply a crime to hitchhike along the highway. To discourage drivers, picking them up became an infraction so officers could investigate both parties for criminal activities or wants & warrants.

Hitchhiking is prohibited (in California) as:
21957. No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.

This would include the use of the universal "thumb out" signal as well as using a sign of any kind. Interestingly, it is NOT illegal to "hitchhike" if you are on the sidewalk. The definition above says you can't stand in the roadway.

What's a roadway vs. sidewalk? The vehicle code tells all:
530. A "roadway" is that portion of a highway improved, designed,
or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.

555. "Sidewalk" is that portion of a highway, other than the
roadway, set apart by curbs, barriers, markings or other delineation
for pedestrian travel.

Now that we've covered all of that...hitchhiking is incredibly dangerous for both the pedestrian seeking a ride and the driver who offers the ride.

For Odd Job - a person waiting for a ride from a known individual is not soliciting a ride from passing traffic. Likewise, if you stop for a stranded motorist, regardless of whether you offer a ride or he asks for one, as long as he was not soliciting passing cars for a ride, it's not hitchhiking (in CA). Your description of a motorist-turned-pedestrian doesn't qualify as hitchhiking since his purpose (apparently) is to walk to a location where he can get aid.

In my mid-twenties I thought I'd be kind on a very cold night and give a female hitchhiker a ride in a warm car. She was just 17 and a mercenary. As soon as we were a block away, she told me to give her money or she would scream rape. I fibbed and told her I only had six bucks to which she replied something like "You've got a car". We dickered just long enough for my goal which was to reach the highway overpass. She started screaming, ripped the front of her blouse and tried to hit me a few times.

So I pulled into the left turn lane to enter the freeway... and stopped. I got out of the car with the keys and leaned back against the hood. The flashers were going and the car was in a well-lit, well travelled area. Within about 1 minute she was gone, running down the road. I waited and a local sheriff's unit stopped a few minutes later. I explained what happened, let him look around in the car where he recovered a cheap necklace and two buttons. They caught her and she had "hitched" all day from S.F. to San Jose. Her purse contents included about $350 in cash, several wedding rings, three men's watches, two ladies' watches and other items of dubious ownership.
 
In my mid-twenties I thought I'd be kind on a very cold night and give a female hitchhiker a ride in a warm car. She was just 17 and a mercenary. As soon as we were a block away, she told me to give her money or she would scream rape. I fibbed and told her I only had six bucks to which she replied something like "You've got a car". We dickered just long enough for my goal which was to reach the highway overpass. She started screaming, ripped the front of her blouse and tried to hit me a few times.

So I pulled into the left turn lane to enter the freeway... and stopped. I got out of the car with the keys and leaned back against the hood. The flashers were going and the car was in a well-lit, well travelled area. Within about 1 minute she was gone, running down the road. I waited and a local sheriff's unit stopped a few minutes later. I explained what happened, let him look around in the car where he recovered a cheap necklace and two buttons. They caught her and she had "hitched" all day from S.F. to San Jose. Her purse contents included about $350 in cash, several wedding rings, three men's watches, two ladies' watches and other items of dubious ownership.
Click to expand...
That's why I don't stop for anyone, you never who may be lurking about in the nearby bushes or what the 'poor stranded traveler' may have in their pockets.
 
@ BillCA

Thanks, that explains it.
Have I got it right that there has to be evidence that the pedestrian was soliciting a ride, and that the onus is on the police to prove that there was solicitation?
 
An "Oh by the way," Hitchhiking was the reason that the USN did away with the traditional blue "Flat Hats" with U.S. NAVY printed on the silk ribbon. In the winter in cold sloppy weather, with a Flat Hat on, a peacoat with the collar up and fastened across the neck/chin and black gloves, the only part of the Sailor visible was a small area around the eyes. If he was dark skinned all there was to see was the whites of his eyes. Rating badges weren't worn on peacoats then either. The end result was that many hitchhiking Sailors were being run down so the NAVY decided to do away with the Flathat and require the white Dixie Cup hats always.
 
Interesting thread.

I never pick up hitchhikers...who hitchhikes anymore except vagrants and criminals? I do pick up walkers after I see a broken down vehicle. My truck is equipped with a video camera system which goes on before I give anyone I don't know a lift.
 
I have a camera connected to a digital video recorder set up in my van, blazer, and jeep. They have been positive proof that the other driver was at fault in 2 wrecks I have been in. They have got me found not guilty in 1 traffic court, and finally got some great video of beautiful country side.
Now back to the question; these type of laws are big brother trying to protect you from yourself. The other use is for L.E. to check up on some one they don't feel quite right about.
 
Its illegal here, to hitchhike or pick up a hitchhiker...

People still do it.

And people always get robbed and killed who pick them up.

It is a TERRIBLE idea.
 
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