How to Change a Traffic Law

Traffic laws, like all other laws, are written by legislative bodies and signed by an executive. Most traffic laws are made at the state level, meaning they are drafted by the state legislature and signed by the governor. Cities can have traffic ordinances passed by their governing council or board, and a traffic division can be responsible for signage and research on traffic patterns.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Identify a legitimate problem. There's little chance of changing the traffic laws of your area to suit your personal preferences. Change is not coming to your local traffic laws unless there is a legitimate problem with the existing framework that poses a danger to public safety, parking availability, circulation or the safety of school zones or playgrounds.

2. Identify the law and the appropriate authority. One of the most challenging parts of changing a traffic law can be locating the actual written text of the law and identifying who in power has the authority to change it. If it is a local ordinance, such as parking in certain areas after dark or the absence of bike lanes on a particular stretch of road, there is probably a local traffic division or board member who should be notified. The vast majority of the overarching traffic law in a state, however, is under the authority of the state legislature. All states list their statutes online, and there are links in the resource section below to state traffic laws.

3. Make contact. A letter or a phone call is a good way to inform a government official of a problem with the traffic law, but unless the problem is imminently dangerous and eminently problematic, you alone will not be able to set change in motion. What will, however, is many voices united. The higher the level of government you want to reach, the more voices you will need. The best way to get a politician's attention is with petitions signed by tens of thousands of registered voters. Petition drives are also a good way to raise awareness of your issue and further increase the profile of your efforts. While you're at it, have willing petition signers also call or email appropriate officials to express their support for a change in the traffic law.

4. Get the media involved. If the local newspapers and TV news shows aren't attracted to your cause by your petitioning activities, then be proactive in reaching out to them. Call reporters that typically cover local news or human interest stories. Write a letter to the editor. Hold a press conference on the steps of City Hall. Get noticed without obstructing other people or disturbing the flow of business.

Tips & Warnings

• Some states allow voters to put initiatives on election ballots through petition drives, but an amendment to a state constitution is probably not the most appropriate way to change a traffic law. Instead, convincing legislators or the appropriate local authorities to change the law in question is exactly how the system is supposed to work.

Resources

• State traffic laws
• Petition example

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