Get Answers to Your Highest Priority South Dakota Legal Questions
Have questions? We have answers! Our South Dakota attorneys answer the questions they hear most often from clients just like you.
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What type of vehicles are considered "passenger vehicles" in South Dakota?
Under South Dakota law, a "passenger vehicle" is any self-propelled vehicle intended primarily for use and operation on the public highways, including passenger cars, station wagons, vans, taxicabs, emergency vehicles, motor homes, trucks, and pickups. The term does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, motor bicycles, motorized bicycles, passenger buses, and school buses. Farm tractors or implements of husbandry designed primarily or exclusively for farm operations are also not considered passenger vehicles.
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Does South Dakota have any exceptions to the seat belt requirement?
Yes. South Dakota law has several exceptions to the seat belt requirement:
- Your vehicle was manufactured before September 1, 1973;
- You have a written statement from your doctor describing a medical reason why you should not wear a seat belt;
- You are a passenger in a vehicle that was not equipped with safety belts because federal law didn't require them when it was manufactured;
- You are a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, while delivering mail; or
- You are delivering periodicals or newspapers on an assigned home delivery route.
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What is the fine if I'm ticketed for not wearing a seat belt in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, the fine for not wearing a seat belt is $25.00.
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Does South Dakota require child safety seats?
Yes. In South Dakota, children under 5 years of age and children weighing less than forty pounds must be secured in a child passenger restraint system. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends to keep kids in child safety seat until the age of 8, or until they are 4'9" tall.
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What are the speed limits in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a series of speed limits depending on your location.
- The speed limit on Interstate 29 and Interstate 90 is 75 mph for cars or trucks, day or night, with a minimum speed of 40 mph.
- All South Dakota secondary highways are 65 mph, unless otherwise posted.
- South Dakota's school zones and obstructed intersections are 15 mph.
- City streets in South Dakota are 25 mph, unless otherwise posted.
Of course, all vehicles traveling in South Dakota are required to operate in a reasonable and prudent manner based on the existing driving conditions.
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I was recently involved in a car accident in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. How do I get a copy of the accident report?
If you were involved in an car accident in South Dakota and would like a copy of the accident report, visit the South Dakota Office of Accident Records website or call 605-773-3868.
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What is a no passing zone in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, a solid yellow line on the right side of the centerline and a no passing sign on the left edge of the roadway indicates a no passing zones.
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How is a marriage defined under South Dakota law?
In South Dakota, marriage is a personal relation, between a man and a woman, arising out of a civil contract to which the consent of parties capable of making it is necessary. Consent alone does not constitute a marriage; it must be followed by a solemnization.
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How old do you have to be to get married in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, any person who is eighteen years of age or older, and who is not otherwise disqualified, is capable of getting married. If either applicant for a marriage license is between the age of sixteen and eighteen, that applicant must submit to the county register of deeds a notarized statement of consent to marry from one parent or legal guardian of the applicant.
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I am seventeen years old and want to get married in Brookings, South Dakota. Do I need my parents' permission?
Yes. In South Dakota, if you are seventeen years old or younger, you cannot receive a marriage license without the written consent of your parent or guardian.