South Dakota

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of South Dakota. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .17 30 days Yes

    Ignition Interlocks

    Discretionary

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes No
  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    Under 8 yrs must be properly secured in a child safety seat

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    8-18 yrs must be properly secured in a seat belt, harnessed child safety seat or booster seat

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    No

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    No

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Secondary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Secondary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • Zero tolerance for some drugs

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use (effective 7/1/21)
    • Impaired Driving: Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    5 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    65 and over: vision statement required

  • Motorcyclists

    Helmets required for riders under 18. Universal helmet law repealed 1977.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Secondary

    Who Is Covered?

    18 and over

    In What Seat?

    Front

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    No state law or programs

    Red Light Cameras

    Prohibited

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    80 80

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    80 80

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70
  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    16 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    14 275* days (or 180 days after passing driver's ed.)
    *effective July 1, 2021    		 50 (10 at night and 10 in inclement weather)*
    *effective July 1, 2021

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    14 + minimun of 6 months 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. (exemption for going directly to or from school event, work or church event and driving agricultural machinery)*
    *effective July 1, 2021    		 No passengers outside of household for first 6 months; 1 passenger outside of household after 6 months.*
    *effective July 1, 2021