Law & Crime

Crime rates, incarceration, and public safety statistics by state.

34 Articles

United States Supreme Court building in Washington D.C., site of the June 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision

Abortion Laws by State

13 states have total abortion bans after Dobbs. Gestational limits, waiting periods, and provider access for all 50 states.

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United States Supreme Court building exterior in Washington, D.C.

Age of Consent by State

32 states set the age of consent at 16. California and Florida require 18. Romeo and Juliet exemption status for all 50 states.

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Wedding rings and legal paperwork representing alienation of affection lawsuits

Alienation of Affection States

Five states still allow alienation of affection claims on June 25, 2026. New Mexico ended the tort in January 2026, and Illinois did so in 2016.

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Vehicle inspection station with testing equipment and cars in service bays

Car Inspections by State

Massachusetts and New York require annual safety and emissions inspections. 20 states, including Florida and Michigan, require neither.

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Police lights and cash evidence representing forfeiture policy

Civil Asset Forfeiture by State

Maine and New Mexico use criminal forfeiture only. Massachusetts and Alabama let law enforcement keep up to 100% of forfeiture proceeds.

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Courthouse exterior with American flags representing state family law

Cousin Marriage Legality

First-cousin marriage is fully legal in 16 states, allowed with conditions in 8, and banned in 26 states.

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Exterior of a state correctional facility in the United States, where capital punishment sentences are carried out

Death Penalty by State

27 states retain the death penalty in 2026. 23 states have abolished capital punishment. 4 states have a gubernatorial moratorium on executions.

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Drinks lined up on a bar counter in a restaurant setting

Legal Drinking Age by State

All 50 states set the minimum drinking age at 21. Thirty-two states allow limited exceptions for underage consumption.

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Map of the United States showing which states allow dry counties or local alcohol bans in 2026

Dry States 2026

No US state is completely dry in 2026, but 33 states allow dry counties or local alcohol bans.

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Police officer conducting a roadside sobriety checkpoint at night in the United States

DUI Penalties by State

Alaska requires 72 hours mandatory jail for a first DUI. Arizona requires 10 days. Utah has the country's lowest BAC limit at 0.05%.

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Commercial dumpster behind a retail building

Dumpster Diving Laws by State

No statewide blanket ban was identified in all 50 states reviewed. Posted private property still creates trespassing risk in states like NC and FL.

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Tiger in a private enclosure in the United States, representing exotic pet ownership laws across states

Exotic Pet Laws by State

27 states ban private ownership of big cats and primates. 20 states require a permit. North Carolina has no statewide restriction on exotic animals.

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Bright fireworks display over a night celebration

Fireworks Laws by State

29 states permit most consumer fireworks. Hawaii, Nevada, and Wyoming rely on local rules, while Massachusetts bans all consumer fireworks.

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Industrial fire-warning imagery representing state flamethrower laws

Flamethrower Legality by State

48 states have no statewide flamethrower permit or ban in the current source set. California requires a permit, and Maryland bans possession.

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Holstered handgun and belt equipment photographed outdoors

Concealed Carry Laws by State

Twenty-nine states allow permitless carry in 2026, while permit requirements and reciprocity rules vary by state.

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Cocktails arranged on a bar during happy hour service

Happy Hour Laws by State

Happy hour is banned in 6 states on this map. Indiana changed on July 1, 2024, while 24 states restrict or ban bottomless mimosas.

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Large suburban homes and rooftops representing home-equity protection laws

Homestead Exemption by State

Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota have unlimited homestead protection. New Jersey and Pennsylvania have none.

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Close-up of a lottery ticket being held in someone's hand

Lottery Winner Anonymity

Twelve states allow anonymous lottery claims, 12 use prize thresholds or limits, and 21 make winners public. Five states have no lottery.

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Close-up of cannabis leaves photographed in natural light

Marijuana Laws by State

Twenty-four states have legalized recreational marijuana. Medical access, possession limits, and decriminalization rules vary by state.

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Map of the United States showing minimum marriage age by state, with states that ban child marriage shown in dark blue

Marriage Age by State

At least 18 states ban marriage under 18 with no exceptions, while other states still allow minors to marry under limited rules.

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Empty Texas highway stretching to the horizon under a clear blue sky with a speed limit sign showing 85 mph

Speed Limits by State

Texas posts the highest speed limit at 85 mph on SH 130. Hawaii tops out at 60 mph. All 50 states ranked by rural interstate speed limit.

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Professional licensing paperwork and office desk items

Occupational Licensing by State

Hawaii and Nevada have the heaviest average licensing burdens. Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Utah, and North Dakota have the lightest.

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Phone voice recorder beside legal paperwork representing recording-consent laws

One-Party Consent States

38 states let a participant record without telling the others. California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and Washington require all-party consent.

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Civil-rights protest imagery representing public-toplessness laws

Public Toplessness Laws by State

New York, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico are green on this map. Indiana and Tennessee are red, while 14 states remain ambiguous.

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Rain barrel collecting roof runoff next to a home garden

Rainwater Harvesting Laws by State

Rainwater harvesting is legal in all 50 states. Colorado caps residential storage at 110 gallons, while Utah allows up to 2,500 gallons.

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Industrial workers in a factory setting representing labor law and union policy

Right-to-Work States

Twenty-six states have right-to-work laws in 2026. Michigan repealed its law effective March 30, 2024, leaving 24 states without one.

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Gas station pumps under a service-station canopy

Self-Serve Gas Laws by State

New Jersey is the only state on this map where self-serve gas is illegal statewide. Oregon changed in 2023 and now allows self-service.

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Crime-analysis documents and map materials representing serial killer statistics by state

Serial Killers by State

Alaska has the highest serial killer rate at 0.867 per 100,000 residents. Hawaii is lowest, and California has the highest raw count at 128.

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Car parked at night in a roadside rest area

Sleeping in Your Car by State

Texas allows up to 24 hours at rest areas. Florida allows 3 hours for the general public, while Virginia bans overnight parking.

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Exterior of a multi-unit apartment building representing residential property ownership and occupancy disputes

Squatters Rights by State

Arizona has one of the shortest adverse possession periods at 3 years, while New Jersey and Texas require up to 30 years.

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Empty courtroom with wooden benches and an American flag, representing state self-defense law

Stand Your Ground Laws by State

30 states have statutory Stand Your Ground laws with no duty to retreat. 11 states require retreat before using deadly force in public.

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Car dealership lot closed outside regular sales hours

Sunday Car Sales Laws by State

Sunday dealer car sales are banned in 12 states on this map. Texas and Michigan still restrict Sunday vehicle sales in narrower ways.

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Collage of weird state laws including a Nevada highway sign, Washington Skamania County Bigfoot notice, and West Virginia roadkill information

Strange Laws by State

See weird laws by state, including strange, outdated, local, and surprising laws with plain-English notes on what each law means.

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New homes on large lots in a lightly regulated suburban or rural landscape

Zoning and Land Use by State

Texas, Wyoming, and Idaho are the easiest states on this map for low-burden rural building. California, New York, and Hawaii are the toughest.

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