Motor Vehicle Laws in 1949

Here's an interesting look at how things have changed over the years. Compare this chart with today's laws.

State Laws, 1949

"R & P" means reasonable and prudent.
StateSpeed limitMin. age for
drivers license
Gas tax (cents
per gallon)
Sales tax
(percent)
AlabamaR & P166½
Arizona601852
Arkansas55182
California5516
Colorado601662
Connecticut401643
Delaware55164none
D.C.251842
FloridaR & P167none
Georgia55156none
IdahoR & P166none
IllinoisR & P1532
IndianaR & P163none
IowaR & P1642
KansasR & P1652
Kentucky451873
LouisianaR & P1591
Maine45156Excise
Maryland501652
Mass.R & P163Excise
MichiganR & P1633
Minn.60155none
Miss.551761
MissouriR & P1622
Montana50156none
Nebraska60165none
NevadaR & P16none
New HampshireR & P164none
New Jersey45173none
New MexicoR & P1471
New York50184none
North Carolina551673
North Dakota501662
Ohio501643
OklahomaR & P162
Oregon55166none
Penn.50185none
Rhode IslandZone1641
South Carolina55146none
South Dakota601542
Tennessee501672
Texas601641
Utah601642
Vermont5018none
Virginia50156none
Washington50163
West Virginia50165none
WisconsinR & P164none
Wyoming601542
Note: By 1959, only Iowa and Nevada had R & P speed limits.


Source: NMA's Web Site

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