Texas Driving Information

Having a video screen visible to the driver is illegal. SB 209 specifically names DVD players and other video playback devices. Navigation systems are exempted from this, so no need to worry that your new luxury car is illegal. Digital systems used for commercial purposes are also allowed.

Obscuring your license plate is illegal. Some products are available on the market that obscure your license plate to camera systems. These are illegal; making the plate difficult to read, and even attempting to change the color of your plate is also illegal.

It is perfectly legal in Texas to use a cellular telephone while driving. The bill HB 281 was proposed to the state, but did not pass and will not take effect. So, while it's not always a good idea to talk on the phone while driving, it's not illegal. This was such a widely circulated rumor that Snopes had to debunk it.

You can make a left turn on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street. Most commonly seen in downtown Austin and Houston, where there are numerous one-way streets crossing each other. From Texas state law §545.101, paragraph (d):

To turn left, an operator who is approaching an intersection having a roadway designated for one-way traffic and for which signs are posted from a roadway designated for one-way traffic and for which signs are posted shall make the turn as closely as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

So if you're going to do it, make sure you turn into the closest lane (as with right turns).

You must clear minor traffic accidents. Have you ever sat in your car for an hour wondering what the traffic holdup is, only to find out it's a fender bender blocking 3 lanes, and say to yourself, "There should be a law..."? Well, there is. If your car can be safely driven, it should be moved out of traffic.

Blocking (stopping in) an intersection is illegal. Everybody should already know this. It's obvious by how many people scramble at the light change to push their way out of the intersection when traffic is moving slowly. Once you decide you can push your car into the 1/2 car length on the other side, you risk blocking the intersection. By blocking the intersection, you prevent cross traffic from moving, which in turn can lead to other blocked intersections. This is what's known as "gridlock." Remember that even if you have a green light, you must yield to traffic already in the intersection. This includes people across from you who may be making a left turn.

We hope that this information is useful to you. It is provided as a courtesy only, and should not be taken as legal advice.