Indiana traffic laws cover speed, right-of-way, phone use, seat belts, insurance, and impaired driving, and almost every moving violation feeds into a point system that can suspend your license once you reach 20 active points in a two-year window. The rules below are the ones that most often decide whether a traffic stop ends in a warning, a fine, or a trip to the BMV.
Speed Limits You Won’t Always See Posted
Where no sign is posted, Indiana’s default speed limits under IC 9-21-5-2 apply:
- 70 mph on interstates outside urbanized areas of 50,000 or more.
- 65 mph on certain interstate segments near urbanized areas (usually posted).
- 60 mph on non-interstate divided highways with four or more lanes outside urbanized areas.
- 55 mph on other highways.
- 30 mph in urban districts.
The 30 mph “urban district” default is wider than most drivers assume. It isn’t limited to residential streets; the statute covers business and residential areas inside city and town boundaries.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-21-5-2 – Maximum Speed Limits; Violation School zone limits take over when lights are flashing or children are present, and posted signs give the actual number.
Work Zone Fines
Speeding through a highway work zone costs far more than a regular ticket. The fine is $300 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third within three years. Reckless or aggressive driving in a work zone can reach $5,000, and injuring or killing a highway worker can mean a $10,000 fine and up to six years in prison.2Indiana Department of Transportation. Work Zone Safety The enhanced fines apply whenever work zone signs are posted, whether or not workers are visible.
Stopped School Buses and the Move Over Law
Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended is a Class A infraction. You must stop before reaching the bus and wait until the arm retracts. The rule applies to drivers behind the bus and to drivers approaching from the opposite direction, with one exception: a physical barrier such as a median or divided highway separating the lanes of travel.3Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-21-12-1 – School Bus Traffic Violations
Indiana’s Move Over law requires you to change lanes away from any stationary emergency vehicle showing flashing red, red-and-white, or red-and-blue lights. On a road with four or more lanes, that means a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle. If moving over isn’t safe, slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit. Violating the rule around an emergency vehicle is a Class A infraction, and if someone operating or affiliated with that vehicle is seriously injured or killed as a result, the charge rises to a Level 6 felony.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-21-8-35 – Vehicles Displaying Flashing Lights
The same move-over-or-slow-down requirement covers stationary recovery vehicles, utility trucks, solid waste haulers, and road maintenance vehicles with flashing amber lights.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-21-8-35 – Vehicles Displaying Flashing Lights As of July 2023, the law was expanded to include disabled vehicles with hazard lights activated, and it applies on all Indiana roads.5Indiana Department of Transportation. Move Over or Slow Down
Signaling and Turning
Under IC 9-21-8-24, you must signal before slowing, stopping, turning, or changing lanes, and you can’t make those movements unless you can do so with reasonable safety.6Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-21-8-24 – Slowing Down, Turning From a Direct Course; Notice
Older guides still cite a 200-foot signal distance (300 feet above 50 mph) from IC 9-21-8-25. That statute was repealed in 2022. The current rule requires only an “appropriate” signal, with no minimum distance set in code. Signaling early enough for other drivers to react is still the practical standard, and failing to signal at all remains a citable offense.
Right on red is allowed after a complete stop when no sign prohibits it and cross-traffic is clear. U-turns are allowed where they can be completed safely and are not banned by signage.
The Hands-Free Phone Rule
IC 9-21-8-59 prohibits holding a telecommunications device while operating a moving vehicle. You can’t hold a phone, tablet, or similar device in your hand while driving.7Indiana Department of Transportation. Indiana Hands-Free Driving Law Fact Sheet Hands-free and voice-operated use is still allowed, GPS and map apps are fine as long as the phone isn’t in your hand, and calling 911 to report an emergency is an exception.
A violation is a Class C infraction, and the BMV adds 4 points to your driving record.8Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana Driver’s Manual – Chapter 5: Points, Suspension, and Insurance Requirements It’s a primary enforcement law, so an officer can pull you over for holding a device alone, with no other violation needed.
Seat Belts and Child Restraints
Every occupant of a vehicle with manufacturer-installed seat belts must wear one while the vehicle is in forward motion.9Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-19-10-2 – Use of Safety Belt by Motor Vehicle Occupant Seat belt enforcement is primary in Indiana, so an unbuckled driver or passenger is enough reason for a stop.10Indiana State Government. What Is the Indiana Law Concerning Seat Belts?
Children under eight must be properly secured in a child restraint system (car seat or booster) following the manufacturer’s instructions. Failing to do so is a Class D infraction.11Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-19-11-2 – Child Less Than Eight Years of Age; Child Restraint System Children between eight and fifteen must use either a child restraint or a standard seat belt, and an unbuckled child in that range is also a Class D infraction for the driver.12Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-19-11-3.6 – Safety Belt Standards; Child Between Eight and 16 Years of Age Infants and toddlers should remain rear-facing until they outgrow the manufacturer’s height and weight limits, then move to forward-facing seats and eventually boosters.
Operating While Intoxicated
Indiana’s OWI threshold is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Driving at or above 0.08% but below 0.15% is a Class C misdemeanor. At 0.15% or above, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor with heavier penalties.13Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-30-5-1 – Class C Misdemeanor; Defense The threshold is 0.04% for commercial drivers and 0.02% for drivers under 21.
A first OWI conviction with no aggravating factors can carry up to a year in jail, fines up to $5,000, and a license suspension of up to two years. A second offense within seven years brings substantially higher penalties, including mandatory jail time or community service. A third offense can result in habitual traffic violator status, felony charges, and loss of driving privileges for up to ten years.
Implied Consent
Driving on Indiana roads constitutes implied consent to a chemical test when an officer has probable cause to believe you’re impaired. If you refuse, the arresting officer must inform you that your driving privileges will be suspended, confiscate your license, and submit a probable cause affidavit to the county prosecutor.14Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-30-6-7 – Refusal to Submit to Chemical Tests Refusal doesn’t avoid the consequences; it typically adds a suspension on top of whatever the underlying charge brings.
Minimum Auto Insurance
Every registered vehicle in Indiana must carry liability insurance meeting the 25/50/25 minimum:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person.
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident.
- $25,000 for property damage in one accident.
These are floors, not recommendations. A serious crash can exceed $25,000 in medical bills alone.15Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Proof of Financial Responsibility
If your license is suspended for an OWI, driving without insurance, or another serious violation, you’ll likely need to file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility through your insurer before reinstatement. The SR-22 isn’t a separate policy; it’s a form your insurer files with the state confirming you carry at least the minimum coverage. It usually must stay in effect for multiple years, and any lapse can trigger a new suspension.
The Point System and Your License
The BMV assigns points to your driving record for each moving violation, and those points stay active for two years from the conviction date.16Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Driver Record Points Common point values:
- 2 points: speeding 1–15 mph over, failure to use headlights, no brake or signal lights.
- 4 points: speeding 16–25 mph over, disregarding a stop or yield sign, unsafe lane movement, holding a handheld device while driving.
- 6 points: speeding 26+ mph over, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, following too closely.
- 8 points: driving while suspended, speed contest on a road.
These values come from the Indiana Driver’s Manual, the BMV’s published reference for the point system.8Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana Driver’s Manual – Chapter 5: Points, Suspension, and Insurance Requirements
When Points Turn Into a Suspension
Accumulating 14 to 18 active points triggers a warning letter from the BMV. At 20 points, the BMV suspends your license for one month. Each additional two points adds another month of suspension, reaching up to 12 months at 42 or more points. A handful of moderate violations in a two-year window can cross 20 points faster than most drivers expect, especially if a speeding ticket lands in the 6-point range.
Reducing Points
Completing a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program removes 4 points from your active record. The credit is available once every three years.17Indiana State Government. Driver Safety Program The course doesn’t erase the conviction, but it lowers your active total, which can be the difference between keeping your license and triggering a suspension. If you’re sitting at 16 or 17 points, taking the course is worth doing immediately rather than hoping no new tickets arrive before older ones age off.