Articles by Dana Mitchell
Is It Legal to Have a Fire Pit in Your Backyard?
Backyard fire pits are widely allowed but regulated for safety. Here's what fire codes and burn bans typically require.
Is It Legal to Fly a Drone Over Your Neighborhood?
The FAA governs the airspace; states add privacy rules. Here's how to fly a drone over your neighborhood lawfully.
Is It Legal to Keep Chickens in Your Backyard?
Backyard hens are allowed in many areas with conditions — and banned in some. Here's what to check before you build a coop.
Is It Legal to Collect Rainwater?
Rainwater harvesting is legal in most states, regulated in a few. Here's how to check your local rules.
Is It Legal to Live in Your Car?
No single national law bans car-living, but local ordinances vary a lot. Here's how to find the rules that apply to you.
Is It Legal to Park in Front of Someone's House?
Public curb space isn't owned by the adjacent homeowner — but local parking rules still apply. Here's the general picture.
Is It Legal to Drive With a Cracked Windshield?
A small chip is usually fine; a crack in your line of sight may not be. Here's how states tend to treat windshield damage.
Is It Legal to Make a U-Turn?
U-turns are often legal — unless a sign or local rule says otherwise. Here's how to tell when they're allowed.
Is It Legal to Eat While Driving?
No state specifically bans eating behind the wheel, but distracted-driving rules can still apply. Here's the nuance.
Is It Legal to Drive With an Expired Registration?
Driving on expired tags is usually a ticketable offense. Here's how grace periods, fines, and renewals generally work.
Is It Legal to Drive Without a Shirt?
No traffic law requires a shirt to drive. Here's the general rule — and the narrow situations where decency rules could come up.
Is It Legal to Drive With Headphones?
Headphone rules vary widely by state — some ban both ears, some allow one, some say nothing. Here's how to think about it.
Is It Legal to Drive With Interior Lights On?
The 'it's illegal' belief is a myth — here's what the law really says about driving with the dome light on, and why safety is the real concern.
Is It Legal to Sleep in Your Car?
Sleeping in your car usually comes down to where you park and local rules — plus an important DUI caveat if you've been drinking.
Is It Legal to Drive Barefoot?
No U.S. state bans barefoot driving outright. Here's what the rules really say — and the one situation where bare feet can still cause a problem.