Dating a 16-year-old when you are 18 is not automatically illegal in the United States, but the line between legal dating and criminal behavior is closer than most people realize. The act of dating itself is not a crime. Sexual activity between the two can be, depending entirely on which state you are in.
This distinction matters enormously. Dozens of 18-year-olds face criminal charges each year not because they had a relationship, but because they did not understand where the legal line sat in their specific state.
Here is the fact that surprises most people: in some states, even consensual sexual activity between an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old is a felony. In others, it is perfectly legal. The difference comes down to your state’s age of consent and whether a Romeo and Juliet exemption applies.
This article covers every angle: what the law actually criminalizes, how it varies by state, what exemptions exist, and what the real-world consequences are in 2026.
Is It Illegal to Date a 16 Year Old When Your 18
Dating a 16-year-old as an 18-year-old is not a crime in the United States under any federal or state law. No law in any U.S. jurisdiction criminalizes the act of two people going on dates, spending time together, or being in a romantic relationship based solely on their ages being 16 and 18.
The legal risk is not in dating. It is in sexual activity. That is where state criminal law steps in, and where the answer changes dramatically depending on where you live.
Most people searching this question assume there is a blanket law covering all relationship activity. There is not. Laws regulating relationships between minors and adults are specifically about sexual contact, not the relationship itself.
Key distinctions the law makes:
- Going on dates, talking, holding hands: not regulated by criminal law at any age
- Kissing: generally not addressed by criminal statute in most states
- Sexual activity (any form): regulated by age of consent laws in every state
- Explicit messaging or photos: covered by separate state and federal sexting laws
The core legal risk for an 18-year-old dating a 16-year-old is sexual activity, not the relationship. Understanding exactly what your state’s age of consent is, and whether a close-in-age exemption applies, is the only way to know where the legal line sits for you specifically.
The two-year age gap between 16 and 18 is one of the most commonly litigated scenarios in age of consent cases. Many states created specific exemptions precisely because of how common and socially accepted this gap is among high school students.
Is It Illegal for a 18 to Date a 16 Year Old
No, it is not illegal for an 18-year-old to date a 16-year-old in the United States. Dating, as a social and romantic activity that does not involve sexual contact, falls outside the scope of criminal law. No state has a statute that makes it a crime for people of these ages to be in a relationship.
The confusion arises because people often use the word “dating” to mean a relationship that may include sexual activity. The law does not use the word “dating” at all. State criminal codes address specific sexual acts, not romantic relationships.
Here is where the legal exposure for an 18-year-old actually comes from:
- Engaging in sexual activity with a 16-year-old in a state where the age of consent is 17 or 18
- Sending or receiving explicit images involving a 16-year-old (state and federal sexting laws apply)
- Traveling across state lines for the purpose of sexual activity with a minor (federal law)
- Engaging in any sexual contact after a parent has legally prohibited contact with their minor child
In states where the age of consent is 16, which includes the majority of U.S. states, consensual sexual activity between an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old is completely legal. In states where the age of consent is 17 or 18, that same activity is a criminal offense regardless of consent.
The relationship is legal. What happens within that relationship depends entirely on your state’s specific statutes.
Is It Legal to Date a 16 Year Old at 18
Yes, it is legal to date a 16-year-old at 18 in every U.S. state in the sense that no law criminalizes dating as an activity. The legality question only becomes complicated when the relationship involves sexual activity or explicit digital communication.
This is one of the most important clarifications in this entire topic. Many 18-year-olds have been advised by parents, school officials, or friends that any contact with a 16-year-old is now illegal simply because they turned 18. That is not an accurate statement of law.
What changes at 18 is your legal status as an adult. You can now be prosecuted as an adult for any criminal offense. If the relationship crosses into sexual activity and your state’s age of consent is above 16, the charge you would face is statutory rape or sexual misconduct, which are adult criminal charges with serious consequences.
Quick Facts:
- Dating: legal at any age combination in all 50 states
- Sexual activity: legal if the 16-year-old is above your state’s age of consent
- Sending explicit images: potentially illegal under both state sexting laws and federal law regardless of consent
- Being in a public relationship: legal, not regulated by criminal statute
The practical advice here is straightforward: know your state’s age of consent before the relationship becomes sexual. That single piece of information tells you whether you are in legal territory or criminal territory.
Key Takeaway: Dating a 16-year-old at 18 is legal in all 50 states as a social relationship. The legal risk begins only when sexual activity or explicit digital communication is involved, and that risk is entirely determined by your state’s specific age of consent law.
Is It Illegal for a 16 and 18 Year Old to Date
No, it is not illegal for a 16 and 18-year-old to date. The relationship itself carries no criminal liability under any state or federal law in the United States. The two-year age gap between 16 and 18 is extremely common among high school students, and the legal system does not criminalize that social reality.
What the legal system does address is sexual activity within relationships involving a minor. And here the answer varies sharply by state. Some states set their age of consent at 16, making consensual sexual activity between these two ages completely legal. Others set it at 17 or 18, which means an 18-year-old can face criminal charges for the same activity.
The most important variable is not the age gap itself. It is how your specific state’s criminal code defines the age of consent and whether it includes a close-in-age (Romeo and Juliet) exemption for couples close in age.
| Age of Consent Level | States | Impact on 16/18 Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 16 years old | About 31 states | Consensual sex between 16 and 18 is legal |
| 17 years old | About 8 states | Sex between 16 and 18 may be illegal |
| 18 years old | About 11 states | Sex between 16 and 18 is illegal without exemption |
The states where the age of consent is 17 or 18 often (but not always) have Romeo and Juliet exemptions that protect relationships with small age gaps. Whether that exemption applies to a 16/18 pairing depends on the specific language of the statute in your state.
Is It Legal for a 16 and 18 Year Old to Date
Yes, it is legal for a 16 and 18-year-old to date in every U.S. state. No state law prohibits a dating relationship between these two ages. The legality debate is entirely about sexual activity, not the existence of the relationship.
This is worth repeating because the misconception is so widespread. Parents, school administrators, and even some law enforcement officers sometimes tell young people that any relationship between a minor and an 18-year-old is automatically illegal. That is not what U.S. law says.
The law draws a specific line at sexual conduct, and only at sexual conduct. Everything else, including spending time together, going on dates, communicating, and being in a committed relationship, is protected by the same basic freedoms that allow any two people to associate with each other.
Where the law does get involved in a purely dating context:
- If a parent seeks a restraining order or no-contact order to prevent the relationship, violating that order is a criminal offense
- If the 18-year-old is in a position of authority over the 16-year-old (teacher, coach, employer), additional laws may apply regardless of sexual activity
- If the relationship involves any explicit digital content, federal law may apply regardless of whether both parties are willing participants
The bottom line: the relationship is legal. The content and conduct within it may or may not be, depending on your state and your specific circumstances.
Is It Illegal to Be 18 with a 16 Year Old
Being 18 and in a relationship with a 16-year-old is not illegal by itself. No U.S. law makes it a crime for an adult and a minor to spend time together, communicate, or maintain a romantic relationship. The criminal law is triggered by specific conduct, not by the existence of the relationship.
The phrase “be with” a 16-year-old means different things to different people. The law only cares about the specific, defined acts covered by state and federal statutes. A dating relationship that involves no sexual contact and no explicit digital communication creates no criminal exposure for the 18-year-old.
Here is a practical breakdown of what is and is not legally regulated:
| Activity | Legal Status | Law That Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Going on a date | Legal in all states | No applicable criminal statute |
| Holding hands, hugging | Legal in all states | No applicable criminal statute |
| Kissing | Legal in all states | No applicable criminal statute |
| Sexual intercourse | Depends on state age of consent | State statutory rape laws |
| Sending explicit photos | Potentially illegal federally | PROTECT Act, state sexting laws |
| Receiving explicit photos | Potentially illegal federally | PROTECT Act, state sexting laws |
| Traveling across state lines for sex | Federal crime | Mann Act, 18 U.S.C. 2423 |
The most dangerous misconception is that mutual consent makes everything legal. For sexual activity involving a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old, consent from the 16-year-old is not a legal defense in states where the age of consent is 17 or 18. The law sets a threshold, and that threshold does not bend for mutual agreement.
Key Takeaway: Being 18 in a relationship with a 16-year-old is not illegal. Specific conduct within that relationship, including sexual activity in certain states and any exchange of explicit digital content, is where criminal law applies.
What Is the Age of Consent in the US
The age of consent in the U.S. is not a single national number. It varies by state, ranging from 16 to 18 years old. There is no federal age of consent for standard sexual activity between private individuals. Each state sets its own threshold through its criminal code.
The majority of states set their age of consent at 16. This means that in those states, a 16-year-old can legally consent to sexual activity with an adult, including an 18-year-old, without any criminal exposure on either side.
States with a higher age of consent (17 or 18) create more risk for 18-year-olds in relationships with 16-year-olds. In those states, consensual sexual activity between an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old is statutory rape by legal definition, even if both parties are willing participants.
| Age of Consent | Number of States | Example States |
|---|---|---|
| 16 years old | Approximately 31 | Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania |
| 17 years old | Approximately 8 | Illinois, Missouri, New York, Wyoming |
| 18 years old | Approximately 11 | California, Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia |
The federal government sets an age of consent of 16 for federal jurisdiction (such as on federal lands or in Washington D.C.) under 18 U.S.C. 2243. But for most everyday situations, state law controls.
The most important step for any 18-year-old in a relationship with a 16-year-old is to identify their state’s specific age of consent. That single number determines whether sexual activity in the relationship is legally protected or criminally prosecutable.
Age of Consent Laws by State
Age of consent laws by state determine the minimum age at which a person can legally consent to sexual activity. These laws vary across all 50 states and directly control whether an 18-year-old faces criminal charges for sexual activity with a 16-year-old.
Here is a detailed breakdown of age of consent laws across key states, including whether a Romeo and Juliet exemption exists for the 16/18 pairing:
| State | Age of Consent | Romeo and Juliet Exemption | 16/18 Legal for Sex? | Key Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 17 | Yes (3-year gap) | Yes | Texas Penal Code 22.011 |
| California | 18 | No | No | California Penal Code 261.5 |
| Florida | 18 | Yes (age 16+, 4-year gap) | Yes | Florida Statute 794.05 |
| New York | 17 | Yes (within 4 years) | Yes | New York Penal Law 130.05 |
| Ohio | 16 | N/A | Yes | Ohio Revised Code 2907.04 |
| Michigan | 16 | N/A | Yes | Michigan Penal Code 750.520 |
| Georgia | 16 | N/A | Yes | Georgia Code 16-6-3 |
| Illinois | 17 | No specific exemption | No | 720 ILCS 5/11-1.50 |
This table covers some of the most populous states but does not cover all 50. The rules in your specific state may differ. State legislatures can and do update these statutes, and several states have modified their age of consent laws or Romeo and Juliet provisions within the past five years.
Understanding your state’s specific statute is the most practical step any 18-year-old can take before a relationship with a 16-year-old becomes sexual.
Can a 16 Year Old Date an 18 Year Old Legally
Yes, a 16-year-old can legally date an 18-year-old in every U.S. state. The dating relationship itself is not regulated by criminal law. A 16-year-old has the same social freedoms as any person to choose who they spend time with and develop romantic feelings for.
The legal question shifts when the relationship involves sexual activity. At that point, the 16-year-old’s ability to give legally recognized consent depends on the state’s age of consent. In most states, a 16-year-old can legally consent to sex. In California, Florida, Wisconsin, and several others, they cannot, and that means the 18-year-old faces criminal exposure.
There is also the question of parental authority. Parents of a 16-year-old cannot make sexual activity between their child and an 18-year-old legal in a state where it is not. Parental permission is not a legal defense to statutory rape charges.
What parents can do:
- Allow or encourage the relationship as a social matter
- Prohibit the relationship, and seek a no-contact or restraining order if violated
- Report sexual activity to law enforcement, which can trigger criminal charges against the 18-year-old even if the 16-year-old does not want charges filed
- Control where and how the two people spend time together
The key takeaway for a 16-year-old: you have the right to date whoever you choose. What you legally consent to in terms of sexual activity is defined by your state’s age of consent law, not your own feelings about it.
Key Takeaway: A 16-year-old can legally date an 18-year-old in all 50 states. Whether sexual activity in that relationship is legal depends entirely on the state’s age of consent, and parental permission does not change what is criminally legal.
Statutory Rape Laws 16 and 18 Year Olds
Statutory rape laws determine whether sexual activity between a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old is a crime, and the answer varies significantly by state. These laws are called “statutory” because they make sexual activity a crime based on the statute’s age threshold, not based on force or lack of consent.
The defining feature of statutory rape law is that consent is irrelevant. If the 16-year-old is below the state’s age of consent, it does not matter that both parties agreed. The 18-year-old can still be charged, convicted, and required to register as a sex offender.
Statutory rape charges for an 18-year-old with a 16-year-old can be classified as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the state and the age gap involved:
| State | Charge Type | Penalty Range | Age Gap Considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Felony or misdemeanor | Up to 4 years prison (felony) | Yes, mitigates charge level |
| Florida | Second-degree felony | Up to 15 years (without exemption) | Yes, exemption may apply |
| New York | Class E felony or misdemeanor | Up to 4 years | Yes, close-in-age considered |
| Illinois | Class 1 felony | 4 to 15 years | No specific exemption |
| Texas | Second-degree felony | 2 to 20 years | Romeo and Juliet may apply |
| Wisconsin | Class C felony | Up to 40 years | No exemption at this gap |
Statutory rape is one of the most seriously prosecuted categories of criminal law in the U.S. A conviction does not just result in prison time. It almost always requires the convicted person to register as a sex offender, which carries lifetime consequences for employment, housing, and civil rights.
Romeo and Juliet Laws Explained
Romeo and Juliet laws are state statutes that create exceptions to age of consent laws for couples who are close in age. These laws exist specifically to prevent the criminal prosecution of teenagers and young adults who are in age-appropriate relationships.
The name refers to Shakespeare’s young lovers, both teenagers, and the idea that the law should not treat similar-age romantic relationships the same as predatory adult-on-child abuse. Most states with Romeo and Juliet laws define the protected age gap as two to five years, making the 16/18 pairing covered in many (but not all) states.
Here is how Romeo and Juliet laws typically work:
- They set a maximum age gap (usually 2 to 5 years) within which sexual activity is not criminal
- They may apply as a complete defense (no crime occurred) or a mitigating factor (charge is reduced)
- They often require both parties to be at or above a minimum age (typically 14 or 15)
- They do not protect against charges involving force, coercion, or a position of authority
| State | Romeo and Juliet Age Gap | Minimum Age for Younger Party | Type of Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3 years | No specific minimum | Affirmative defense |
| Florida | 4 years | Must be 16 or older | Complete exemption |
| Colorado | 10 years (under 15); 4 years (15-17) | 15 | Affirmative defense |
| New York | 4 years | 15 | Charge reduction |
| Georgia | 4 years | 14 | Affirmative defense |
| Virginia | 3 years | 15 | Affirmative defense |
Not every state has a Romeo and Juliet law. California, Illinois, and Wisconsin are among the states that do not have meaningful close-in-age exemptions. In those states, an 18-year-old faces the same statutory rape charges regardless of how close in age the parties are.
Close in Age Exemption Laws
Close-in-age exemption laws are the legal mechanism that protects 18-year-olds from criminal prosecution for sexual activity with a 16-year-old when the age gap falls within the state’s protected range. These exemptions are a direct response to the recognized social reality that teenagers date people close to their own age.
The term “close-in-age exemption” is used interchangeably with “Romeo and Juliet law” in most legal discussions. Both terms refer to statutes that carve out a protected space for age-appropriate relationships near the age of consent threshold.
Close-in-age exemptions vary in three important ways across states:
- The maximum protected age gap (ranges from 2 years to 5 years depending on the state)
- Whether the exemption is a complete defense (no crime) or only reduces the charge level
- Whether the exemption applies to both parties or only to the older party facing prosecution
The practical impact for an 18-year-old with a 16-year-old: a two-year age gap falls within the protected range in most states that have these laws. But the exemption only applies to sexual activity. It does not apply to the exchange of explicit images, which remains separately regulated under state and federal law.
States without any close-in-age exemption create the harshest outcomes. In California, a romantic relationship between an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old that becomes sexual is a criminal offense regardless of the age gap, the nature of the relationship, or the consent of both parties. There is no legal protection for the 18-year-old based on the closeness of their ages.
Key Takeaway: Romeo and Juliet and close-in-age exemption laws protect many 16/18 relationships from criminal prosecution, but only in states that have enacted them. California, Illinois, and Wisconsin are significant exceptions where no such protection exists.
Is It Illegal to Date a 18 Year Old When Your 16
No, it is not illegal to date an 18-year-old when you are 16. From the 16-year-old’s perspective, dating an 18-year-old is a personal choice that is not criminalized by any law in the United States. The 16-year-old faces no criminal exposure simply for being in a dating relationship with an adult.
This is worth emphasizing because younger people sometimes worry that they could get into legal trouble for being in a relationship with an 18-year-old. That is not how U.S. law works. Age of consent laws create criminal liability for the older party, not the younger one. A 16-year-old cannot be charged with statutory rape against themselves.
What a 16-year-old should understand about this relationship:
- They are a minor under law, and that status affects certain legal protections they have
- Their parents or guardians retain significant legal authority over their activities and relationships
- If they choose to be sexually active with the 18-year-old in a state where it is illegal, the 18-year-old bears the criminal risk, not them
- Any explicit photos they send or receive may expose the 18-year-old to federal prosecution, even if they initiated that communication
The 16-year-old is not the legally vulnerable party in terms of criminal charges. The 18-year-old bears all the legal risk. But both parties bear the real-world consequences of a relationship that results in criminal charges against the older person.
Is It Illegal to Date an 18 Year Old at 16
No, it is not illegal to date an 18-year-old at 16. This question, framed from the 16-year-old’s perspective, has the same answer as the previous one. Dating is not regulated by criminal law at these ages, and a 16-year-old faces no personal criminal liability for being in this type of relationship.
The question reflects a common concern among teenagers: will I get in trouble for who I date? The legal system does not work that way. Criminal liability for age-based sexual offenses sits entirely with the person who is legally an adult, in this case the 18-year-old.
That said, there are practical and legal realities a 16-year-old should understand:
- Parents can legally restrict or attempt to end the relationship through restraining orders or no-contact orders
- School administrators can create rules about on-campus relationships between students of different legal statuses
- Any sexual activity that is illegal in your state creates serious consequences for the 18-year-old, which affects both people in the relationship
- Explicit digital communication (texts, photos, videos) creates federal legal exposure for the 18-year-old even when the 16-year-old initiates or agrees
The experience of having a partner face criminal charges is a real consequence for the 16-year-old, even if they personally face no charges. Understanding that reality is part of being informed about what this relationship could involve.
Is It Illegal to Date a 16 Year Old at 18
Dating a 16-year-old at 18 is not illegal in any U.S. state. The dating relationship, as a social and romantic connection, is not the subject of any criminal statute. The legal question that matters is whether the relationship involves sexual activity and whether that activity falls within or outside the state’s age of consent framework.
This specific phrasing of the question reflects the 18-year-old’s perspective, and it comes up frequently because turning 18 creates a sudden shift in legal status. The day before an 18th birthday, a person is a minor. The day after, they are an adult subject to adult criminal prosecution.
That shift in legal status does not retroactively make a prior relationship illegal. It means that going forward, the 18-year-old is now the adult in the relationship, and adult criminal law applies to their conduct.
Three things an 18-year-old in this situation should know:
- Their legal status as an adult means they can be prosecuted as an adult for any criminal offense
- If sexual activity occurs and is illegal in their state, the charge is typically statutory rape or criminal sexual conduct
- A Romeo and Juliet exemption in their state may protect them, but they need to confirm it applies to their specific situation
Age of consent laws do not grade criminal exposure by how much you liked the person or how long you dated. They are threshold-based. You either fall within the protected range or you do not.
Can Parents Allow a 16 Year Old to Date an 18 Year Old
Yes, parents can allow a 16-year-old to date an 18-year-old, and that permission is legally meaningful in the social sense. Parents are the legal guardians of minors and can decide who their child socializes with. But parental permission does not change what is and is not legal under state criminal law.
This is where a major misconception exists. Many people believe that if a 16-year-old’s parents approve of the relationship and approve of any sexual activity, the 18-year-old is legally protected. That is false in every state with an age of consent above 16.
What parental permission actually changes:
- Parents can authorize the social relationship and allow the 18-year-old to spend time with their child
- Parents cannot override state criminal law regarding age of consent for sexual activity
- Parents can report sexual activity to police even after previously approving of the relationship, and that report can trigger charges
- Parents can revoke permission for the relationship at any time and seek a no-contact order
In states where the age of consent is 16 and no other complicating factors exist, parental approval is simply a family matter with no direct legal significance. In states where the age of consent is 17 or 18, parental approval is irrelevant to the criminal law analysis.
The legal protection for an 18-year-old does not come from parental approval. It comes from the state’s age of consent statute and any applicable Romeo and Juliet exemption.
Penalty for Dating a Minor
There is no legal penalty for dating a minor in the United States. Dating itself is not a crime. The penalties associated with these situations come from specific criminal offenses like statutory rape, criminal sexual conduct, sexual abuse of a minor, or possession of child sexual abuse material.
The penalties in age of consent cases are severe and life-altering. Statutory rape convictions frequently result in felony records, prison sentences, and mandatory sex offender registration. The specific penalty depends on the state, the nature of the sexual conduct, the ages of both parties, and whether a Romeo and Juliet exemption applies.
Here is a penalty overview for sexual activity between an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old across states where it may be illegal:
| State | Charge Name | Felony or Misdemeanor | Prison Range | Sex Offender Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Unlawful sex with a minor | Felony or misdemeanor | Up to 4 years | Possible |
| Wisconsin | Second-degree sexual assault | Class C felony | Up to 40 years | Yes |
| Illinois | Criminal sexual abuse | Class 1 felony | 4 to 15 years | Yes |
| Florida | Lewd or lascivious battery | Second-degree felony | Up to 15 years | Yes (without exemption) |
| New York | Rape in the third degree | Class E felony | Up to 4 years | Possible |
Sex offender registration is often the most devastating long-term consequence. It can follow a person for 10 years, 25 years, or for life, depending on the state. It affects where a person can live, what jobs they can hold, and whether they can be near schools or parks.
Key Takeaway: There is no penalty for dating a minor as a social relationship. Criminal penalties apply only to sexual conduct that violates state age of consent laws, and those penalties include prison time and mandatory sex offender registration in many states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dating a 16-year-old illegal if you are 18?
No, dating a 16-year-old is not illegal if you are 18.
No U.S. law criminalizes a dating relationship based solely on these ages.
Criminal law applies only to sexual activity, and whether that is legal depends on your state’s age of consent.
What states have Romeo and Juliet laws that protect 18 and 16-year-old relationships?
Many states have Romeo and Juliet laws, including Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Colorado, and Virginia.
These laws protect consensual sexual relationships with small age gaps, typically two to five years.
California, Illinois, and Wisconsin are notable states that do not have meaningful close-in-age exemptions for this age pairing.
Can parents make it legal for a 16-year-old to date an 18-year-old?
Parents can allow their 16-year-old to be in a dating relationship with an 18-year-old as a personal family decision.
However, parental permission cannot override state criminal law regarding age of consent for sexual activity.
In states where sex between a 16 and 18-year-old is illegal, parental consent is not a legal defense.
What is the penalty for statutory rape involving a 16 and 18-year-old?
Penalties range from misdemeanor charges with minimal jail time to felony convictions carrying multiple years in prison.
Many convictions also require mandatory sex offender registration, which can last 10 years to life depending on the state.
California penalties for unlawful sex with a minor include up to four years in state prison for felony charges.
Does texting or messaging a 16-year-old as an 18-year-old break any laws?
Regular texting and messaging is not a crime.
Sending or receiving sexually explicit photos or videos involving a 16-year-old is a federal crime under the PROTECT Act, even with the 16-year-old’s consent.
The 18-year-old can face federal child pornography charges for possessing or sharing explicit images involving a 16-year-old regardless of the nature of the relationship.
The legal reality around 16 and 18-year-old relationships is more specific than most people realize. Dating is legal. Sexual activity depends on your state. Explicit digital content is federally regulated regardless of consent.
Bookmark this article for reference if this question comes up for you or someone you know. Laws change, states vary, and having accurate information is always better than guessing.
