Defintions

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Updated Jul 25, 2026

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San Andreas: The state of San Andreas includes one main contiguous land mass containing several municipalities, as well as several islands, such as Roxwood, along with many uninhabited small land masses which can only be reached by air or sea. The borders of San Andreas extend to 3 Kilometers beyond the land-based claims of San Andreas. Each square grid on the nation's map is 1 Kilometer by 1 Kilometer (therefore 2 Kilometers diagonal). The Oil Rig to the Southwest of San Andreas is within the oceanic territories of San Andreas. The rouge self-governing nation of Cayo Perico is not within the territorial claims of San Andreas, despite its proximity, and is considered a "rogue" nation. The vertical area San Andreas' sovereign claim extends from 25-miles underground to the upper end of controlled airspace at 60,000ft.

Government of The United States of America: The governing body of the state of San Andreas.

Port of Entry: Any airport, seaport / dock, or other transit connection that is along a waterway which is connected to international waters in a way which is navigable by a passenger-carrying vessel.

Child: A person aged 17 years or younger.

Adult: A person aged 18 years or older.

Property

Government Property: Property containing buildings or structures which perform government-controlled functions such as a power substation, airport, city hall, police station, jail, etc..
Public Property: Property purposed for movement or recreation such as roads, walkways, beaches, parks, etc..
Private Property: Property owned by citizens, companies, corporations, etc.. Examples include homes, residences, businesses, stores, etc. (See Trespassing code for specific criminal implications of different types of property).
Implied Public Area: An implicitly public area is an area that is private property but functions as a public area (ex. shopping area of a store, fueling-up area of a gas station, lobby of a police station).
Restricted Area: Restricted areas are implicitly or explicitly defined. They include areas which have posted keep-out or no-trespassing signage as well as secured areas which are fenced, walled off, or behind doorways.

Protection Orders

Protected Party: As a subject of a restraining order the protected party is the subject whom the restrained party is to be prohibited from approaching, contacting, etc.
Restrained/Restricted Party: As a subject of a restraining order the restrained party is the subject who is prohibited from approaching, contacting, etc. the protecting party.

Vehicles

Vehicle / Motor Vehicle: A vehicle, or motor vehicle, is defined as a self-propelled (with engine and/or motor) transportation device which is used to transport people and/or things.

Commercial Vehicle:

Any roadway motor vehicle that adheres to the following pretenses:
A GVWR or GCWR of 17,001lbs or more
Used to transport 16 persons or more
Used to transport HAZMAT
Any vehicle used in Interstate Commerce with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,001lbs or more
Along with these pretences, a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required if the following pretences are met as well:
A GVWR or GCWR of 26,001lbs or more
Towing any unit (ex: trailer) of 10,001lbs or more with a GCWR of at least 26,001lbs
Transporting HAZMAT (driver must HAZMAT endorsement as well)
Used to transport 16 souls or more (any type of active school bus is required to have a CDL driver)
Exceptions to not require a CDL would adhere to the following:
Mobile Motor Homes
Farm equipment (must have proper farm use tags)
Road-friendly construction equipment (with reasonable cause to be driven on roadways)
Emergency Vehicles
Military Vehicles that classify as commercial vehicles (only while being operated by active military personnel)

Any vehicle that is classified as a CMV must be driven by a CDL holder if traveling across state lines. A temporary permit can be obtained by the original/sending jurisdiction for across-state lines traveling with a CMV. For example, a CMV traveling from Ohio must either have a CDL, or an interstate commerce permit from Ohio to leave Ohio.

All-Terrain Vehicle / Off Road Vehicle (ATV/ORV): An ATV, Dirt-bike, UTV, Golf Cart, Go-Kart, or Construction-vehicle (ex. Bulldozer).

Public Road: A public road or roadway is defined as any highway, freeway, sidewalk, walkway, path, road, or street open to public travel and use which is not on private or restricted property. When referring to a public roadway in the context of laws related to vehicles, the term "public road" is being used to refer to streets designated for vehicular traffic. Certain public roads are exclusively for non-motorized traffic such as cyclists on bike paths whereas other public roads are exclusively for motorized traffic such as highways. When necessary, the code will specify the type of public road.

Traffic Collision: Also known as a motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, or car accident, a traffic collision is when a motor vehicle or off-road/all-terrain vehicle strikes or collides with another vehicle, object, pedestrian, animal, barrier, building, etc.

Parking: The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not — and other than temporarily — for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers.

Stopping/Standing: Any cessation of movement of a vehicle, whether occupied or not — except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or when in compliance with the direction of a police officer or official traffic control device or signal.

Vehicle Registration and Plates:

Normal operating plates for civilian or commercial vehicles, including a variety of vanity designs, are intended for vehicles owned, operated, leased, rented, or used in a private or commercial non-government capacity.
Vanity Plates are standard normal operating plates which have customized phrases or numbers on them. Motorists pay an additional fee to customize their plate. The DMV reserves the right to deny or revoke inappropriate plates at their discretion. "Yankton" plates are considered legal vanity plates.
Exempt Plates: Exempt plates are issued by the government and are to be displayed on government owned vehicles or private vehicles owned by a government official, which they use to perform both private activities as well as work related functions (requires approval from employer). The "exemption" means that the government agency does not have to pay vehicle registration fees to the DMV for that vehicle. Exempt plates may be unregistered if they are in a formatted as "police agency and officer identification badge number" format as prescribed by official law enforcement agencies.
Protected Plates: Plates which appear as either normal or exempt and display a registration flag of "Protected" or "Restricted" when searched, along with the name of the agency which has protected/restricted that information. These are reserved for high-ranking government officials. These plates are to be treated as Exempt plates.
Cold-Plates: In rare instances, protected plates may be used as completely unregistered for obscurity and security. If a cold-plated vehicle is being driven, the vehicle will appear unregistered, and therefore, the operator of the vehicle should be prepared to verify their employment and explain the vehicle's protected status when questioned about registration. These are reserved for high ranking government officials. These plates are to be treated as exempt plates.
Undercover Vehicles: In rare instances, the DMV may authorize certain officials to utilize vehicles registered to nonexistent entities or persons in order to perform sensitive undercover investigations. Unmarked Law Enforcement vehicles are exempt from registration laws.

Tools of Harm

Weapon: Refers to any object, tool, or item, whether or not regulated or manufactured, that a person utilizes to inflict harm, threatens harm with, or utilizes in lieu of a regulated or manufactured item that, when used as intended, can inflict harm.
Firearm: The term “firearm” means (A) any weapon which will, or is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive reaction; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer.
Explosive: The term “destructive device” or "explosive" means (A) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas (i) bomb, (ii) grenade, (iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, (iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, (v) land mine, or (vi) device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses.

Open Carry: The term "open carry" or "to openly carry \[a firearm\]" refers to publicly displaying a weapon's presence on your person. A handgun is openly carried when the holster it is stored in is visible and not concealed. A firearm that is not a handgun is openly carried when a person is clearly displaying their possession of that weapon by having it strapped to their body with industry standard security devices. For the purpose of current codes, there is a differentiation in legality between openly carrying a firearm or carrying it concealed; concealed carry is legalized by the Concealed Carry of a Firearm Act.