12 Innocent Driving Habits from the Past That Will Get You Fined Today

Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doesn’t just double your crash risk—in 2025, it is practically guaranteed to trigger a sensor.    

The days of the “friendly warning” are officially extinct. Traffic enforcement has shifted from reactive patrols to a high-tech surveillance grid driven by results; in fact, aggressive new measures have contributed to a decline in traffic fatalities for 10 straight quarters as of 2025, as part of the National Roadway Safety Strategy. But this safety comes at a cost to your wallet. 

In 2024 alone, New York City’s automated noise cameras imposed nearly $462,000 in penalties for loud mufflers and honking, while departments nationwide are deploying “Ghost Graphics” stealth cruisers that blend perfectly into traffic until the blue lights flash. The road is no longer a private sanctuary; it is a regulated public utility, and your “innocent” habits have become expensive liabilities.   

I’ve analyzed the latest 2025 statutes and enforcement data to help you dodge the ticket. Here are twelve habits you need to break immediately.

Warming up your car in the driveway

We all grew up doing it: running out in pajamas to start the car, cranking the heat, and running back inside to finish our coffee. It felt like we were being kind to the engine. But today, this ritual—known as “puffing”—is illegal in states like Colorado, Michigan, and New York.

Modern fuel-injected engines don’t need warm-up time, and law enforcement argues that idling cars are magnets for thieves. In Colorado, “puffing” can land you a $60 fine, while NYC has deputized citizens to record idling commercial vehicles for a cut of the penalty. In NYC, these “bounty hunters” made headlines, earning thousands by catching delivery trucks and regular drivers idling for more than three minutes (or one minute near schools). If you don’t have a remote starter that keeps the doors locked, sit in the cold seat or pay the price.

Hanging air fresheners from the mirror

That “Little Tree” air freshener might smell like “Black Ice,” but to a police officer, it smells like probable cause. Most states, including California, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, have “material obstruction” laws that prohibit hanging anything from your rearview mirror.

While the fine itself is often small (around $25 in California), the real danger is the “pretextual stop.” Police use these dangling accessories as a legal reason to pull you over and investigate for other crimes. Legal experts warn that this innocent habit gives law enforcement a free pass to detain you. Move that air freshener to the vent or throw it under the seat.

Camping in the left lane

We all know that one driver who sits in the left lane doing exactly the speed limit, thinking they are the pace car for safety. IMO, they are the worst. But now, they are also targets. States are aggressively cracking down on “Left Lane Camping” to reduce road rage and congestion.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) launched a “Don’t Camp in the Left Lane” campaign with slogans like “Camp in a park, not in the left lane.” Ohio law requires drivers to keep right unless passing, and violators can be ticketed. In Florida, police continue to enforce laws against lane obstruction despite vetoed bills that would have imposed stricter penalties. Remember, if you’re not passing, move over—it’s not just courteous, it’s the law.

Keeping the dealer license plate frame

When you bought your car, the dealership likely screwed on a plastic frame with their logo. You probably never thought twice about it. However, thanks to the rise of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), these frames are now illegal in many jurisdictions if they cover any text on the plate.

Florida’s 2025 law creates a strict prohibition on frames that obscure the word “Florida” or the registration decal, classifying it as a second-degree misdemeanor. Texas has similar strictures, fining drivers up to $200 if the frame touches the state name or nickname. Take a screwdriver off; you’re giving the dealer free advertising and risking a ticket.

Eating a full meal behind the wheel

The drive-thru is an American institution, but treating your dashboard like a dining table is now “distracted driving.” Washington State pioneered the “E-DUI” (Driving Under the Influence of Electronics), which also penalizes “dangerously distracted” behaviors, such as eating.

If an officer sees you fumbling with a burger and swerving slightly, you could be hit with a fine of $99 or more, in addition to a standard moving violation. In Georgia, a driver famously made headlines for getting a ticket for eating an egg roll. Experts note that eating increases crash risk by 80%, making it statistically more dangerous than some phone use.

Blasting your favorite song

Remember cruising with the windows down and the bass up? That joy is being legislated out of existence. Florida’s “pop-up” strict enforcement allows officers to ticket you $114 if your music is “plainly audible” from just 25 feet away.

New York City has gone even further, installing automated “noise cameras” that listen for decibel spikes. If your car (music or muffler) exceeds the limit, the camera mails you a ticket starting at $800. It’s dystopian, but it’s real—keep the concert inside the cabin.

Honking to say hello

In many cities, the horn is a language—a short beep for “hello,” a long honk for “move it.” But technically, the horn is an emergency warning device, and using it for anything other than that is illegal.

New York City’s noise crackdown includes fines of $350 for unnecessary honking. With the new noise cameras detecting specific frequencies, you can be fined for honking at a friend or expressing frustration in gridlock. Save the horn for when you’re actually about to crash.

Driving with snow on the roof

We call it the “snow mullet”—business in the front (clear windshield), party in the back (six inches of snow on the roof). You figure it’ll blow off on the highway. That “ice missile” is precisely why laws like “Jessica’s Law” in New Hampshire exist.

Named after a motorist killed by flying ice, NH law fines drivers $250 to $500 for failing to clear their vehicle. Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey have similar heavy fines if your snow dislodges and causes damage. Buy a telescoping brush and clear the whole car, unless you want to pay a fine and potentially hurt someone.

Smoking with minors in the car

“My car, my rules” doesn’t apply when kids are involved. The health risks of secondhand smoke in confined spaces have led a wave of states to criminalize smoking when minors are present.

West Virginia joined the list in 2024, and states like Illinois, Arkansas, and California enforce fines ranging from $25 to over $100. In Puerto Rico, fines can hit $250 for a first offense. If you have kids in the backseat, the cigarette must stay unlit.

Letting your pet ride unrestrained

I love seeing a Golden Retriever with its head out the window, but that “happy dog” is technically a projectile. While few states have explicit “dog seatbelt” laws, officers increasingly cite drivers under general distracted-driving or animal-cruelty statutes.

According to the NJ Legislature, New Jersey allows fines of up to $1,000 if it determines the animal was transported “inhumanely” (i.e., unsecured and at risk). At the same time, a 2025 North Carolina bill proposed fining drivers $100 for holding a pet on their lap. Airbags deploy at 200 mph—if your dog is on your lap, the results are catastrophic.

Wearing headphones while driving

With the rise of noise-canceling earbuds, many drivers tune out the road noise to listen to podcasts. This isolates you from sirens and horns, making it a significant safety violation in states like California, Washington, and Ohio.

In these states, covering both ears is strictly illegal. Fines vary, but in Washington, it can be a primary offense. You need “situational awareness” to survive 2025 traffic. Use one earbud if you must, or connect to Bluetooth.

Passing disabled vehicles without moving over

For years, “Move Over” laws only applied to police and ambulances. In 2024 and 2025, states like West Virginia, Kansas, Wisconsin, and New York expanded these laws to include all disabled vehicles with hazard lights on.

If you see a mom changing a tire or a stalled sedan on the shoulder, you are now legally required to move over a lane or slow down significantly. Fines in West Virginia start at $500 and can include jail time if you hurt someone. Treat every car on the shoulder like a cop car.

Key Takeaway

The golden age of lenient driving is over. With AI cameras, citizen bounty hunters, and stricter statutes, your “innocent” habits are now revenue streams for the state. Audit your driving today: remove the plate frame, clear the snow, put the phone (and the burger) down, and keep the volume low. It’s cheaper to change your habits than to pay the fine. Drive safe!

Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.

20 of the Worst American Tourist Attractions, Ranked in Order

20 of the Worst American Tourist Attractions, Ranked in Order

If you’ve found yourself here, it’s likely because you’re on a noble quest for the worst of the worst—the crème de la crème of the most underwhelming and downright disappointing tourist traps America offers. Maybe you’re looking to avoid common pitfalls, or perhaps just a connoisseur of the hilariously bad.

Whatever the reason, here is a list that’s sure to entertain, if not educate. Hold onto the hats and explore the ranking, in sequential order, of the 20 worst American tourist attractions.