In mid-May 2026, images circulated online purportedly showing announcements introducing laws banning "aimless driving" in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Washington and even the entire United States from May 15, 2026. Governors for the states and President Donald Trump appeared to sign the respective documents.
For example, one Instagram user shared Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's alleged news release (archived) announcing the new legislation. The user's caption read, "But they approved street racing."
(@art_is_fast, accessed via Instagram)
The first two paragraphs of the alleged announcement, dated May 12, 2026, read:
Governor Mike DeWine has officially signed House Bill 626 into law, making aimless driving within the State of Ohio prohibited effective May 15, 2026.
Under the new legislation, individuals may no longer operate a motor vehicle without a clear and lawful destination. "Cruising around," "joyriding," or "driving with no place to go" are now prohibited under state law.
Near-identical purported announcements for Florida, Kentucky, Washington and the entire county likewise spread across social media (archived, archived, archived, archived). Snopes readers also contacted us to ask if the announcements are real.
All of the alleged announcements are fake, meaning they did not come from the respective governors' offices, nor from Trump. The fabricated documents carry tell-tale signs that they were created, at least in part, using artificial intelligence software, including incorrect text and state seals.
No such legislation exists
The alleged state announcements refer to the so-called anti-aimless driving legislation as either House or Senate Bill 626, while the U.S.-wide announcement calls it the "Aimless Driving Prevention Act." None of the legislation actually exists. Ohio and Kentucky do have bills named House Bill 626 from their most recent legislative sessions, though these are not about aimless driving. Florida does not have a House Bill 626, Washington does not have a Senate Bill 626 and Trump has not introduced a nationwide "Aimless Driving Prevention Act."
It is unclear who first posted the fake announcements and whether they were intended as satire. Snopes contacted some people who were among the first to post the fake documents to ask if they created them. We await replies to our inquiries.
One sign the alleged announcements from the governors of Ohio, Florida, Kentucky and Washington are fake is that they feature incorrect versions of the respective state seals at the top. An authentic announcement from a governor's office would not have made this mistake.
The alleged Ohio announcement incorrectly depicts the sheaf of wheat and bundle of arrows in the
Incorrectly rendered text or images are telltale signs of AI use.
The purported state announcements also each feature a quote attributed to that state's governor that is identical across the four documents (except for the name of the state).
The alleged quote reads, "[Ohioans/Floridians/Kentuckians/Washingtonians] deserve safer roads and stronger communities. This law ensures our roadways are used responsibly and with purpose."
It is unlikely that Govs. DeWine, Ron DeSantis, Andy Beshear and Bob Ferguson would all issue the exact same statement.
The fake announcements circulated roughly a week after some social media users claimed Trump said people should "only drive downhill" to save gas.