Legal Definitions of Streets and Highways

Legal Definitions of a Street or Highway

• A street or highway refers to the entire width between the boundary lines of a public space for vehicular traffic.
• It can also be a privately owned space for vehicular traffic, accessible to the owner or those with permission from the owner.
• Limited access roads owned or controlled by a special district, under traffic control jurisdiction of a county or municipality, are also considered a street or highway.

Exceptions to the Definition

• Areas not open to public vehicular traffic, such as:
  • Runways, taxiways, ramps, clear zones, or parking lots within airport boundaries.
• These areas are owned by the state, county, municipality, or political subdivision.

Additional Scenarios

• A space used for vehicular traffic on a controlled access basis in a mobile home park recreation district.
• This type of space is open to the public.

Road Types

• A laned highway is a road divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
• A limited access facility is a road adjacent to private property, with no right or easement for property owners to access it.
• Limited access roads may have restrictions on access for certain types of vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or commercial vehicles, as indicated by signage.
• Such roads may still allow property owners access to light, air, or view over their property.

Private Roads

• A private road or driveway is a privately owned space used for vehicular traffic.
• Only owners and those with permission from the owners are allowed to use private roads.

State Roads

• A state road is a highway designated as a state-maintained road by the Department of Transportation.

Intersection Definition

• An intersection is the area within the connection of the lateral curbs or boundary lines of two or more roadways.
• It is formed when two highways join at approximately right angles or any other angle that connects the two roads.

Divided Highways

• If a highway includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, each crossing of each roadway by an intersecting highway is considered a separate intersection.

Roadway Features

• A crosswalk is a designated area on a road within an intersection, marked on the surface to indicate a pedestrian crossing.
• Crosswalk markings connect the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway from the curbs or road edges.

Sidewalks

• A sidewalk is the area used by pedestrians between the curb or lateral line of a roadway and the adjacent property lines.

Bicycle Paths

• A bicycle path is any road or path open to bicycle travel.
• Bicycle paths are separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or a barrier.
• Bicycle paths are often located within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way.

Florida Driver's License Types

• There are three types of driver's licenses in Florida: commercial, noncommercial, and learner's.

License Classes

• The Florida driver's license has four classes: A, B, C, and E, which determine the type of vehicle a driver can operate legally.
• The classes also specify the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle a driver is allowed to drive.

License Format

• Licenses issued to drivers 21 and older have a horizontal format.
• Licenses issued to drivers younger than 21 have a vertical format.

License Header Colors

• Blue header: commercial driver's licenses (CDL) - Classes A, B, and C.
• Green header: noncommercial driver's license - Class E.
• Orange header: learner's license - Class E.
• Red header: DHSMV-issued identification card.