Surprising Michigan Law: Is Riding in a Pickup Bed Really Legal?

There are several actions Michiganders know are prohibited while driving.

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The most obvious is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Another one I've been ticketed for was driving without wearing my seatbelt.

Recently I saw something while driving home from work that had me scratching my head.

A man in a pickup truck had his dog riding in the truck bed.

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I was curious to know if that was legal because I was always under the impression that it was against the law.

After looking into I found out while there are some stipulations, but it is legal in Michigan to drive around with your dog in the back of a pickup bed.

So Michigan law allows dogs in pickup beds, but what about human passengers?

Are Michigan Passengers Allowed To Ride In Pickup Beds

To my surprise, in Michigan, most passengers are allowed to ride in the back of the pickup bed.

According to Michigan Vehicle Code Act 300 of 1949 here is who can and cannot ride in the back of a pickup truck bed.

•  A driver cannot allow a person under the age of 18 to ride in the open bed of a pickup truck on a highway, road, or street in a city, village, or township at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour.

• Passengers that are 18 or older can ride in the back of a pickup truck, as long as the speed restriction for minors isn't violated.

There isn't a state-level speed restriction for adults riding in the bed.

If you're in a pinch and don't have any more room, I understand thinking about riding in the pickup, but I don't think I would ever do it on a public road.

God forbid something happened, and I end up being severely injured or even killed.