Does U.S. House Bill 626 really ban “aimless driving”? Fact-checking Ron DeSantis’ virus claims
A claim that has gone viral on social media platforms has sparked confusion, claiming that the proposed US bill Would criminalize “aimless driving” or make it illegal for people to drive without purpose.
The accusation focuses on House Bill 626, whose posters sparked controversial discussions online by suggesting politicians were trying to restrict personal freedoms and routine driving behavior.
The U.S.-wide release refers to the purported anti-driving legislation as the “Aimless Driving Prevention Act,” while purported state announcements refer to it as House or Senate Bill 626.
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What is a viral claim?
It is said that on May 15, 2026, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, washingtonAnd even the entire United States, according to the photo that went viral online. President Donald Trump and state governors appear to have signed the corresponding documents.
An Instagram post shared by @art_is_fast shows a press release from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office mentioning House Bill 626.
The letter begins: “Governor Mike DeWine has officially signed House Bill 626 into law, banning aimless driving in Ohio, effective May 15, 2026.”
The release continues, “Under the new legislation, individuals can no longer operate a motor vehicle without a clear legal destination. State law now prohibits ‘joying around,’ ‘joying,’ or ‘driving to nowhere.'”
However, since none of these purported statements officially come from Trump or the offices of individual governors, they are all fraudulent.
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What is the truth?
According to Snopes, no official press release was issued by any state office or the White House in Florida and Washington.
House Bill 626 is a measure introduced in recent legislative sessions in Ohio and Kentucky, but it has nothing to do with aimless driving. Ohio’s proclamation, allegedly circulating on social media but now archived, shows an incorrect version of a bunch of arrows and a sheaf of wheat in the center of the state’s seal.
According to Snopes, the Florida seal in the state’s alleged document misspells the word “great” in a text break and the image in the center is inaccurate. The Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” that appears on the real presidential seal also does not appear on the fake notice’s presidential seal.
Additionally, all the notices from different states cited the same citation, which Snopes noted was unusual. “It’s unlikely that Governor DeWine; Ron DeSantisAndy Beshear and Bob Ferguson would all make the exact same statement. “
