Vehicle Code in South Dakota

South Dakota Motor Vehicle Code

If you need information about the laws and regulations than govern motor vehicles, driver's licenses, vehicle registration, and traffic laws in South Dakota, you can turn to the motor vehicle code.

Within the vehicle code, you'll find the exact language of the law. It can be a useful resource if you want to:

  • Determine whether or not you can fight a recent traffic ticket.
  • Gain a better understanding of the South Dakota traffic laws.
  • Avoid committing the same traffic violation in the future.
  • Learn more about your transactions at the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS).
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the procedures around driver's licenses and vehicle registrations.

On this page you'll find information about accessing the South Dakota motor vehicle code and some links to other related topics.

South Dakota's Codified Laws

Many of us are intimidated by legalese, or government-speak. The thought of having to find or do research on information written in this manner, such as the South Dakota legislature, is enough to intimidate most drivers.

However, there are times when you really might need to have access to this information. For example, in the motor vehicle realm, perhaps you want to contest a traffic ticket, and need to know exactly what the law says about the infraction. Or, maybe you're thinking of becoming a vehicle dealer, and need to know more about the rules governing them.

The good news is that it's surprisingly easy to find this information online.

For instance, most rules concerning motor vehicles fall under Title 32. Within this title are several chapters (with a few sub-chapters), each dealing with a different subject. Some of the areas covered include the state highway patrol, vehicle dealer regulation, motor vehicle inspection, traffic regulation, emergency vehicles, child safety restraints systems, and school buses.

Whichever topic you need detailed information on, you're likely to find clarification in the South Dakota vehicle code.

While the vehicle code can serve as a great source of knowledge, you should contact the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) with specific questions about your driver's license and consider contacting a lawyer if you need legal advice.

Check Your SD Driver's License Status

Whenever you need or want to check the status of your South Dakota driver's license, you can order a driving record report. This record will show whether your SD driver's license is currently valid. Should your driver's license have been revoked or suspended, the report will indicate that according to what's on record at the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS). This report will also show points against your license and, in some cases, information on any accidents you have had.

If you need more information on topics related to traffic tickets and driver's license penalties, please visit our pages that cover Suspended Driver's Licenses in South Dakota and Driving Records in South Dakota.

If you have found that your car insurance rates have increased after receiving a traffic citation, you may want to visit our car insurance center to shop around for a new insurance policy.

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