Is It Illegal to Ride in the Back of a Pickup Truck in Arizona? What the Law Says

Riding in the bed of a pickup truck evokes images of summer adventures, country roads, and a sense of freedom. However, many Arizona residents wonder whether this practice is actually legal. The answer might surprise you. Arizona is one of the few states in the country with no specific laws prohibiting passengers from riding in the cargo area of pickup trucks, regardless of their age. While this means you technically will not receive a traffic citation for riding in a truck bed, the absence of a law does not mean the practice is without serious risks and consequences.

Understanding the legal landscape surrounding this issue is crucial for both drivers and passengers. This comprehensive guide explores Arizona’s stance on truck bed riding, how it compares to other states, the safety concerns involved, and what you need to know before deciding to ride in or transport passengers in a pickup truck bed.

What Arizona law says

Yes, riding in the open bed of a pickup truck is generally legal for adults in Arizona because there is no statewide statute prohibiting passengers in a cargo area, but this does not override seat belt and child passenger rules or local safety guidance for minors and specific situations. Arizona is among the states listed as having no statewide restriction on riding in pickup beds, though safety agencies strongly discourage it due to high injury risk in crashes and ejections. ​

Arizona does not have a statewide prohibition on riding in the open cargo area of a pickup truck, meaning adults may ride in the bed unless another rule applies, such as child restraint laws or local event rules. Legislative briefs and traffic safety summaries in Arizona consistently note there is no state law restricting passengers in cargo areas, distinguishing Arizona from states that set age, speed, or roadway limits for bed riders. News coverage in 2025 reiterated that while it isn’t expressly banned, this status does not make it safe, and enforcement can still occur under other unsafe-transport or child safety provisions.​

Children and seat belt rules

Arizona’s child passenger and seat belt framework still applies: children must be properly restrained in appropriate seats or belts, which are not available in an open pickup bed, making bed-riding improper for minors even without an explicit “truck bed” ban. Safety authorities emphasize that unrestrained riding dramatically increases fatal and serious injury risks, with NHTSA-cited data showing belt use around 92% nationally and about half of passenger deaths involving unbelted occupants, underscoring the risk for any unbelted position like a cargo bed. State safety messaging urges adults to model proper restraint use and never place children in cargo areas, given there are no occupant protections in a truck bed.​

Local exceptions and proposals

From time to time, bills have been introduced to limit truck-bed riding, especially for younger children in Arizona’s largest counties, but these restrictions have not been adopted statewide in current law as of late 2025. Some municipal codes or local event policies can restrict cargo-area riding in specific contexts like parades or within city limits, so checking local ordinances and event rules is prudent even when state law is silent. Multi-year traffic safety tables maintained by national safety organizations continue to list Arizona as having no statewide cargo-area restriction, confirming the status across updates.

Are There Exceptions to the Rule?

The law does provide a few specific exceptions where it is permissible for a minor to ride in the back of a pickup truck. These situations are limited and are generally for controlled or specific circumstances. The exceptions include:

• Emergency Situations: In a true emergency, the law allows for flexibility.

• Parades: Minors can ride in the back of a truck if it is part of an officially sanctioned parade.

• Agricultural Work: If the vehicle is being used for farming or ranching purposes, minors may be transported in the truck bed.

It is important to note that these exceptions are narrowly defined. Simply taking a group of kids to a local park or a birthday party does not qualify.

How Arizona compares to other states

Arizona is categorized among the states with no statewide restrictions on riding in pickup cargo areas, placing it alongside jurisdictions like Alabama, Alaska, and others in national compilations as of late 2025. In contrast, many states impose age-based limits, roadway exclusions, or require restraints or enclosure for cargo-area riders, illustrating a patchwork approach across the country. Travelers crossing state lines should check destination laws because permissive rules in Arizona do not carry over to neighboring states that may have strict prohibitions or narrow exceptions.​

Bottom line

For adults, riding in the back of a pickup truck is generally legal in Arizona due to the absence of a statewide ban, but it remains dangerous and strongly discouraged by safety authorities. Children should not ride in cargo beds because they cannot be properly restrained, and child passenger laws and safety guidance make such transport unsafe and potentially unlawful in practice.