South Dakota Driving & Vehicles Laws (2026)

South Dakota law does not prohibit driving barefoot. There are no statutes or regulations explicitly addressing footwear requirements for drivers. Driving barefoot is therefore legal and not subject to any restrictions.

South Dakota law does not explicitly authorize lane splitting. Motorcyclists are required to operate within a single lane and not weave between lanes. SDCL § 32-26-1 requires vehicles to be operated within a single lane except when overtaking or passing another vehicle.

License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in South Dakota. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued emphasis on ensuring that plates are not obstructed.

Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in South Dakota. There are no specific state statutes prohibiting their use or sale. Commercial vehicles may have separate restrictions under federal regulations.

Radar jammers are federally illegal in all states including South Dakota under FCC regulations. There have been no recent legislative changes in South Dakota regarding laser jammers.

Right turn on red is legal in South Dakota after coming to a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and cross traffic, unless a sign prohibits it at a specific intersection. South Dakota law permits a right turn on a red light after a complete stop, unless a sign specifically prohibits it.

Studded Snow Tires are legal in South Dakota. The use of studded tires is restricted to specific winter months in South Dakota.

South Dakota law restricts window tinting on the front side windows to a minimum of 35% visible light transmission (VLT). The rear side and back windows may have any darkness. Medical exemptions are allowed under SDCL § 32-37-10.