Before hitting the road for your vacation, be careful. In many popular destinations, sticking your thumb out on the side of the road, or opening your door to a stranger, can cost you a hefty fine… or even arrest.
Hitting the road for vacation is often synonymous with absolute freedom and a controlled budget. Whether you drive your own car, a rental vehicle, or rely on your thumbs up to travel inexpensively, adventure has everything to seduce. But be careful: this seemingly innocuous gesture could transform your dream vacation into a real legal nightmare.
Indeed, if the French Highway Code does not prohibit giving a thumbs up at the side of the road (as long as it is not a highway), hitchhiking is illegal in many countries or states. The absolute trap? The sanctions do not only target the pedestrian, but also the motorist who stops to help them! Depending on the region, the sanctions can range from a simple fine (sometimes very steep) to a formal arrest. It is therefore better to know the laws of our neighbors before packing your bags.
Italy, for example, has quite strict regulations on hitchhiking. If it is tolerated on urban and secondary roads, it is excluded on major roads. The Italian Highway Code specifies that it is prohibited to “request or grant rides” on roads, access ramps, junctions, but also in service and parking areas. The fine can range from 42 euros to 173 euros. However, although the law prohibits it textually, the authorities sometimes show tolerance if the hitchhiker politely requests rides in parking lots or rest areas without making disruptive gestures on the tracks.
In Spain, it is the same principle: hitchhiking is prohibited on expressways and in toll zones, for both the pedestrian and the driver, and is punishable by a fine of 80 euros. But the practice is so rare that locals (including some police officers) wrongly think that it is prohibited throughout the country, as several hitchhikers explain on dedicated forums.
On the other side of the world, some countries are even more severe. This is the case in Singapore: although there is no law prohibiting free hitchhiking, the practice is nevertheless pursued indirectly under the cover of laws against obstruction of traffic or vagrancy. The pedestrian is then liable to a fine of at least 670 euros. Even informal and commercial carpooling, without official registration, is severely regulated: drivers can face a fine of more than 2,000 euros in the event of a repeat offense, or even a 6-month prison sentence!
Although known as the El Dorado of backpackers, Australia is also one of the strictest countries in this area. Laws vary by state, but some strictly prohibit soliciting a ride on the road and impose hefty fines. It’s the same concept in the United States, where hitchhiking is not legal everywhere. While federal law prohibits it on highways, states like New York and Pennsylvania strictly prohibit soliciting a driver from the roadway, under penalty of fines ranging from $50 to $150. In Nevada or New Jersey, it has even been illegal since the sidewalk or shoulder.
When traveling, ignorance of the law is never an excuse… and the local police will not hesitate to remind you of this. Whether you are a thumbs-up backpacker or a driver ready to generously help out a stranger, there is only one word of advice: always check the legislation before crossing the border. This simple reflex will prevent you from seeing your vacation budget disappear into an astronomical fine… or worse, from ending your stay in a police station on the other side of the world.
