Is It Legal to Ride in the Bed of a Truck in NH?

In the state of New Hampshire, it is not legal to ride in the bed of a truck. According to New Hampshire state law, any person under 16 years of age is prohibited from riding in the bed of a pickup truck.

Any person aged 16 or older is not allowed to ride in the bed of a truck except for agricultural workers who are performing farming activities. Even then, it must be on a farm-to-market road and there must be no more than two passengers in the truck bed.

The law also states that no one may be transported in an open cargo area of any vehicle unless it is equipped with sides or railings that extend at least 46 inches above the floor and is properly secured. The sides and railings should be spaced no more than three inches apart, so as to prevent anyone from falling out or being ejected from the vehicle during operation.

Riding in the bed of a pickup truck can be extremely dangerous due to lack of protection from road hazards such as flying debris and other vehicles on the road. It can also increase the risk of rollover if the driver were to make sudden turns or maneuvers at high speed. Additionally, it can cause distraction for the driver due to having passengers near him/her while operating a motor vehicle which can lead to serious accidents.

In conclusion, it is not legal to ride in the bed of a truck in New Hampshire except for agricultural workers performing farming activities on farm-to-market roads with no more than two passengers present at one time. It is important to remember that riding in an open cargo area without proper railings or sides poses serious safety risks and should be avoided at all times.

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Susan Delgado