Editor's note: This article first appearedat NerdWallet.com.

Don’t get caught driving without headlights in the rain inMassachusetts, and don’t leave your car door open while parked onthe side of the road in Oregon. These are just two unusual andlittle-known state traffic offenses that are punishable by a ticket— and possibly higher car insurance rates.

In April 2015, Bay State legislators passed a law requiringdrivers to use headlights in the rain. The penalty is only a $5ticket, but a ticket can spike your insurance premiums for years.Massachusetts drivers are also required to use headlights in foggyconditions and between half an hour after sunset and half an hourbefore sunrise.

[Related: The 9 deadliest driving behaviors, by thenumbers]

In Oregon, it’s illegal to dawdle on the roadside with your dooropen. Drivers and passengers should only open doors to let peoplein and out of the car. You could be issued a $90 ticket for thisoffense.

These aren’t the only unusual traffic laws you’ll findthroughout the U.S. Here are some others that are on the books:

• Tire screeching is not just loud, but illegal, in Derby,Kansas. Peeling out of your driveway can carry a $500 fine or sendyou to jail for 30 days.
• Love those air fresheners dangling from the rearview mirror?Make sure they don’t interfere with your vision if you’re a NewJersey driver. Distractions on your dashboard or in front of thewindshield can lead to a $54 fine in the state.
• In Oregon, it’s illegal to drive on the highway with minors onthe hood or fender of your car — always good advice. But if you’retraveling between hunting sites during deer season with anunrestrained minor in the open bed of your pickup truck, it’sperfectly OK as long as the child has a hunting license, accordingto Oregon state legislation.
• People aren’t the only ones who need to buckle up in NewJersey. So do pets. Police can issue a citation if you’re caughtdriving with a pet on your lap, in the front seat, in the back of apickup truck or partially hanging out a window. Unrestrained petscan cost you from $250 to $1,000.

Learn your local driving laws to avoid costly ticketsand higher insurance premiums.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Animals on the go

Speaking of animals, here are some other states with strangelaws involving pets, and even livestock:

• In New Hampshire, it’s against the law to drive with a dog inthe back of a pickup truck unless the area is enclosed or the dogis secured. Similarly, Oregon forbids driving with pets on anyexterior part of your car, including the hood, fender or runningboard.
• Thinking of leaving New Mexico with your horse, cow, or goat —dead or alive? It’s illegal unless the animal is first inspected bythe New Mexico livestock board and issued an officialcertificate.
• Think again before attempting to drive through or around a herdof cattle in Wisconsin or Connecticut. Cows have the right of wayon roads and highways.

No business like snow business

Dealing with snowstorms is no fun. Here’s another chore to addto the list: Removing snow from your car roof in New Jersey,Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts. Drivingwith a snow-covered roof can cost you from $75 to $500, dependingon the state.

[Related: 12 ways good drivers lose theirlicenses]

If ice or snow breaks free from a moving car in Connecticut andcauses injury or property damage, motorists can be fined $200 to$1,250. In Pennsylvania, the citation can cost $200 to $1,000.

Urban legends about driving laws

While there are plenty of weird driving laws on the books, theInternet is also filled with urban legends about trafficregulations with no apparent basis in reality.

Here are some of the frequently repeated tall tales:

• Supposedly, it’s illegal to drive with a gorilla in yourbackseat in Massachusetts. In fact, there is no specific law on thebooks regarding gorillas and cars, although presumably this wouldfall under the category of reckless driving.
• Similarly, there are many reports that it’s illegal to drivewith an uncaged bear in Missouri. Again, while there is no specificlaw against it, drivers would be well-advised to cage their ursinepassengers at all times.
• Finally, we could find no evidence of a law forbidding womenfrom driving while wearing a housecoat.