# Florida can't back in parking law **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012 "2014-05-08T22:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/41 "2014-05-09T20:49:33Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Wait. It’s not OK to carefully back in because of pedestrians but it’s OK to back out _into_ pedestrians? Yeah, I wonder whether that’s science-based legislation, or seat-of-the-pants guesstimate research-based legislation (plus a plausible sounding reason for what someone wants). > [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s not clear if this is a Florida law or just a law in some localities like Sarasota. Both. > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Because it is the city making the rule. The state couldn’t care less, and that is who would need to change the plate law. It’s a state law as well as a Sarasota law. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/42 "2014-05-09T20:56:47Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Considering that the overwhelming majority of people pull in and back out you would expect the difference to be far greater if the risks were equal. Your quote is for all driving, we are are talking about parking lots and driveways. Here is the best tip I can give about this in light of the lack of hard statistics, drive by any UPS/Fedex/Post office yard where they park the trucks. Every single one of them is backed in. They don’t do this because its fun, they do it because it leads to fewer backing related collisions. I can’t find the numbers online but in my work with Fred Mottola I have heard him quote the police statistics “in 40% of all collisions someone is in reverse” which when you look at it is simply insane. Less than 1% of all driving a factor in 40% of the crashes. The estimates are that by backing into the space (or pulling through when possible) you can cut this number down to 7% or so. I always love when this topic comes up, There are always those who will post about how stupid it is to back in while they have never actually given the technique a shot. (yes I am aware we are all guilty of this about something or another) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/43 "2014-05-09T21:05:52Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > Here is the best tip I can give about this in light of the lack of hard statistics, drive by any UPS/Fedex/Post office yard where they park the trucks. Every single one of them is backed in. They don’t do this because its fun, they do it because it leads to fewer backing related collisions. Just for the record, a Fedex truck backed into my car in my driveway while it was arriving. Therefore I have to conclude that backing in is incredibly and outrageously unsafe, and should never be tolerated when my car is nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/44 "2014-05-09T21:19:43Z")
> [@arseNal](#): > > 😕 Isn’t that just talking about backing up versus moving forward _in general_, and not about backing into parking spots vs nosing into parking spots? No, those stats are for off road accidents. Parking lots and driveways. The number of car-pedestrian accidents on roads is [far higher.](http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/factsheet.html) > [@](#): > > I don’t think anyone disagrees that backing up is more dangerous than moving forward. So the “backing into the spot” proponents favor choosing to perform the more difficult maneuver into the parking spot, which is easier to check for pedestrians/other cars, and is much less likely to have a pedestrian/other car suddenly enter it, rather than having to check the whole rest of the parking lot (as you do when you back out of a spot). But the numbers just don’t support that. Not even with the built-in confirmation bias. (No one is counting the number of times people back up or pull forward without incident.) ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/45 "2014-05-09T21:31:21Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > No, those stats are for off road accidents. Parking lots and driveways. Unless I’m missing something, it’s still not comparing backing into a spot vs backing out of a spot. Parking is going to involve backing up at some point no matter what, yes? Meaning if someone backed in OR out of a spot and had an accident, it would fall under a “backover accident”, if I’m understanding your link correctly. > [@](#): > > The number of car-pedestrian accidents on roads is [far higher.](http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/factsheet.html) What does the number of car-pedestrian accidents have to do with what we’re discussing? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/46 "2014-05-09T21:55:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If license plate visibility is the factor here, why not change the law to require front license plates? Is there some reason this hasn’t been done yet? If Indiana decided to implement front plates, I can tell you people would make a stink. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/47 "2014-05-09T22:30:00Z")
> [@arseNal](#): > > Unless I’m missing something, it’s still not comparing backing into a spot vs backing out of a spot. Parking is going to involve backing up at some point no matter what, yes? Meaning if someone backed in OR out of a spot and had an accident, it would fall under a “backover accident”, if I’m understanding your link correctly. That’s kind of the point. The only thing we know is there’s not a heck of lot of difference in the number of front-over accidents and back-over accidents. That seems to refute the claim that it’s safer to back in and go out forwards than to go in forwards and back out. To actually prove it either way we would need to know for a given period of time: How many times did someone back in, and how many accidents happened? How many times did someone back out, and how many accidents happened? How many times did someone pull in forward, and how many accidents? How many times did someone pull out forward, and how many accidents? I can’t find any hard numbers for those questions, and I suspect it’s because no one even tries to count all incidents of parking. I do know, from personal experience, that at least for me: 1. Yes, it’s easier to pull out forward than to back out. 2. But it’s easier to pull in forward than to back in. 3. And it’s easier to back out than to back in. Also in most parking lots, if I back in or pull clear through so I can pull out forward, I’m going to end up going the wrong way down a one way parking lane. > [@](#): > > What does the number of car-pedestrian accidents have to do with what we’re discussing? That was a response to these: > [@arseNal](#): > > 😕 Isn’t that just talking about backing up versus moving forward _in general_, and not about backing into parking spots vs nosing into parking spots? > [@Critical1](#): > > Your quote is for all driving, we are are talking about parking lots and driveways. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/48 "2014-05-10T00:37:33Z")
[QUOTE=Learjeff] It’s a state law as well as a Sarasota law. [/QUOTE] No. It is not a state law at all. This is a city ordinance for which the penalty is a $35 fine. I cannot find the year that the ordinance was inacted, but my guess is that it corresponds with the purchase of their Veriplate systems in 2010. Perhaps it was this line from the linked article that confuses you? “By Florida statute, and local ordinance, it is enforcement personnel’s duty to verify that vehicles parking in city lots, streets, and garages have valid license plates.” Notice he didn’t say anything about back-in parking actually being a state statute. He is just saying that his parking enforcement personnel have the authority to ensure that vehicles have valid license plates. This is true. They do have that authority. But this is only because they have the authority to enforce _all_ “state, county and municipal laws and ordinances governing parking within the boundaries of the municipality” according to ss316.640(3)(c)(2). Having a valid license plate _is_ a state statute, and his parking enforcement personnel do have the “duty to verify”. But the only thing giving them the ability to assess a fine for backing in to a parking spot is the city ordinance. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/49 "2014-05-10T01:17:18Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I wonder if it’s this wording in[the statute](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.605.html) that they use for it; Not a chance. All this statute is requireing is that license plates be securely attached in a specific way and at a specific height, and that they are not covered by filth. > [@](#): > > Backed in, like against a wall or something means it’s not visible from the rear of the car? The 100ft visibility is the litmus test for dirt or grease or defacement. Not for things like other cars, walls or bushes. If a car was parallel parked legally between two cars, then the license plate could not be viewed from 100ft. So this law is not referring to things making the plate not visible from 100ft, unless it is stuck to the plate or actually attached to the car. If someone’s license plate was so scratched up that it could not be read from 100ft, then that is a violation. Or if the person just went mudding and the plate is covered in so much mud that someone has to be 3ft away to read the plate, that is an infraction. > [@](#): > > Looks like from other sources, they can also cite you for those decorative license plate holders, if they obscure any of the plate. Yes. This is the kind of thing that the statute you linked to was intended to prevent. If a decorative plate holder obscures any of the letters, numbers or decals, or the word Florida then it is a noncriminal, nonmoving infraction punishable by a $30 fine. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/50 "2014-05-10T01:33:07Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > I lived in Florida for more than a decade, frequently backed into spots, and never heard of this. > > I’m not saying it’s not the law, but if it is it’s really infrequently enforced and I bet the rental agency people would be as surprised to learn about it as the driver was. Agreed. I’ve lived in Florida for over three decades. I see people back in to parking spots all the time, and do it myself sometimes. I don’t recall ever seeing anyone ticketed for it. Now…if it’s an angled spot, then you’re effectively parking contrary to the flow of traffic. That’s (I think) a ticketable offense where I live: Parking laws in Florida, 316.195: > [@](#): > > Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. I didn’t see anything that makes me think parking back-in is against the law for the state. Then again, I only read the parts of 316 with the word “parking.” ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/51 "2014-05-10T01:44:47Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > I see people back in to parking spots all the time, and do it myself sometimes. In fact, I’ve rarely seen a police car that was _not_ backed in. So not only would there have to be a state law forbidding it, there would also have to be one that exempts emergency vehicles. It is clearly not a state law at work here. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/52 "2014-05-10T03:32:34Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > In fact, I’ve rarely seen a police car that was _not_ backed in. So not only would there have to be a state law forbidding it, there would also have to be one that exempts emergency vehicles. It is clearly not a state law at work here. You keep patiently saying this over and over, and people keep not reading it over and over. Florida has no state statute against back-in parking. Some local jurisdictions including, apparently, Sarasota, have a local (city) ordinance to that effect. This isn’t difficult, and it explains all the personal anecdotes being given. Plus, I’m not as patient as **Bear\_Nenno**. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/53 "2014-05-10T03:59:13Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I’ve never had that happen. When I park, I do a nose dive towards the parking space then swing hard to the opposite side. So by the time I put my truck into reverse, my truck is sitting diagonally with my rear bumper pointing towards the parking spot. > > With a big truck like mine pulling in front first requires a three point maneuver, backing in only requires 2. > > Blocking traffic is going to happen either way. When you do this I will be behind you blocking the space you are trying to get into because you passed the open spot already. I’ll be laying into the horn and I won’t move either. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/54 "2014-05-10T04:01:23Z")
I usually back in, since most people in Japan back in. Once you learn, it’s much easier, and much faster if the parking spaces are tiny as they tend to be over here. Cars can make tighter turns in reverse because the car pivots around the rear wheels (due to them not turning, unlike the front wheels). So go just past the spot, turn your steering wheel all the way over, and reverse to line up with the spot. Use your mirrors to ensure you are clear of either side of the spot and back right in. If the guy next to you washed his car, you even have a mirror to see how much space you have left, otherwise you will have to estimate based on the relative sizes of your cars. Usually doesn’t take any longer than trying to front-in, especially if there isn’t much room and you have to back back out again to realign your car with the sapce. Then, when it’s time to leave, I can see if there are pedestrians or traffic in the way instead of having to awkwardly back out into traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/55 "2014-05-10T04:02:25Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > When you do this I will be behind you blocking the space you are trying to get into because you passed the open spot already. I’ll be laying into the horn and I won’t move either. Maintain a safe following distance and you will probably suffer lower blood pressure, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/56 "2014-05-10T04:11:53Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > When you do this I will be behind you blocking the space you are trying to get into because you passed the open spot already. I’ll be laying into the horn and I won’t move either. Feel free to “Not move” all you want because you wont be in a position to take that spot from me. Have fun with your psychosis. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/57 "2014-05-10T04:13:37Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Feel free to “Not move” all you want because you wont be in a position to take that spot from me. > > Have fun with your psychosis. As long as you’re not trying to get in a compact space with your big truck, I’ll let you back in anywhere you want. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/58 "2014-05-10T05:21:35Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > As long as you’re not trying to get in a compact space with your big truck, I’ll let you back in anywhere you want. …said the Actress to the Bishop. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/59 "2014-05-10T06:00:25Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Safety issues are all just made up propaganda. The reason that Sarasota has passed this ordinance is simple. Their police department has several license plate scanning and recognition systems called Veriplate. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > If license plate visibility is the factor here, why not change the law to require front license plates? Is there some reason this hasn’t been done yet? The logic is missing something here. As I noted several posts above, there seems to be a universal rule, at least throughout California, forbidding backing into spaces. (And I think we need to be clear: I think this is generally referring to perpendicular parking, not angled parking let alone parallel parking.) I don’t know if it’s a state law, but it is certainly a commonly posted rule in parking lots. And this, _despite_ the fact that California _does_ have front plates as well as rear plates. And furthermore, this has been the rule for as long as I’ve been driving here (40+ years), which goes back a whole long time before license place scanners have been around. So the rule doesn’t exist just so cops can see the plates on the rear of the car, and the rule doesn’t exist just so cops can take pictures of them all with their new-fangled scanners. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012/60 "2014-05-10T06:08:25Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > The logic is missing something here. > > As I noted several posts above, there seems to be a universal rule, at least throughout California, forbidding backing into spaces. (And I think we need to be clear: I think this is generally referring to perpendicular parking, not angled parking let alone parallel parking.) I don’t know if it’s a state law, but it is certainly a commonly posted rule in parking lots. > > And this, _despite_ the fact that California _does_ have front plates as well as rear plates. > > And furthermore, this has been the rule for as long as I’ve been driving here (40+ years), which goes back a whole long time before license place scanners have been around. > > So the rule doesn’t exist just so cops can see the plates on the rear of the car, and the rule doesn’t exist just so cops can take pictures of them all with their new-fangled scanners. We have that rule in our condo parking because people kept backing up too far and knocking down the parking assignment placards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-cant-back-in-parking-law/688012.md?page=4)