Telephones
Almost everyone in the United States uses the telephone to conduct business, to chat with friends, to make or break social engagements, to shop (catalogue companies are flooding the mail delivery system, encouraging the customer to phone in purchases by credit card), and to obtain all kinds of information. Telephones save your feet and endless amounts of time — not to mention multiple bus or subway fares. It is the chief means of communication in the United States. People are also increasingly relying on fax machines and e-mail (see "E-mail and Internet Access" later in this chapter) to send information to another person or to a business.
Some visitors from other countries hesitate to telephone at first because they are afraid that they will be bothering the other person. Within normal hours — after 8:30 in the morning and before 9:00 at night — people are used to the telephone ringing and will not mind at all. Most offices have an employee whose job it is to answer the phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You need never worry about calling a business concern for information, nor will you find them closed at lunchtime, though of course a particular individual may be out. It can be confusing at first to place a call. Our telephone numbers consist of ten digits (for example, (555) 555-5555). The first three digits, usually in parentheses, comprise the area code. Within the same area code, the local seven-digit number is usually sufficient; however, many large cities have several area codes, so you must dial all ten digits. When calling long distance, you will need to precede the call with a "1" and include the area code. To make it more confusing, in some low-density places, a single area code will encompass many small cities (or even an entire state), some of which are a long-distance call from one another!
If you do not wish to receive sales calls, you can request that your telephone number be placed on the national "Do-Not-Call" list through the Internet at www.donotcall.gov/. This list subjects telemarketers to a $500 penalty, payable to you, if they disregard your wishes on this matter.
It is simple and quick to have a phone installed. Just call the business office of the local telephone company (see the front of the local telephone directory). They will install it on a specific day by appointment, when it is convenient for you. You must be at home to tell them where you want the phone to be placed. Unfortunately, sometimes the process is much more expensive for students, who may have to make a large deposit to initiate service.
There are a number of companies that offer long-distance services. AT&T, MCI, and Sprint are among the largest. There are also a great many stores that offer a vast array of phones to buy. Don't overlook discount stores if your needs are not extravagant.
You will be charged a basic monthly rate by your local telephone company. It can be quite confusing to select your carriers. Usually, there is a monopoly that handles your local calls. If you do not anticipate making many calls in your immediate area, you may opt for a lower monthly fee but a per-charge call (even for calling next door!) or you can choose a higher monthly fee that includes unlimited local calling. Next you can choose a company to provide your regional long-distance calls — these are outside your city but include cities near you. Finally, you need a long-distance carrier for calling across the country. You may choose your local telephone company for all of these services, but you may not receive the lowest rates in doing so. There is fierce competition among long-distance companies, and they offer a wide variety of plans including reduced international charges and free calls to specific numbers. Some of these special "calling plans" have a per-month fee attached to them.
Independent of these choices are the many "per-call" long-distance companies, through which you place calls by dialing a separate code preceding your call (for example, 10-10-220). When you do so, that company, and not your regular carrier, will bill your call. You may want to ask some American colleagues for advice — even we get confused about all the choices. Beware of sales calls from many of the telephone companies. They may offer "bargains" that actually cost you more money!
Telephone Directories
When your telephone is installed, you will be given two directories — the regular directory, in which names of people with phones are listed alphabetically, and the Yellow Pages. In smaller cities, these are often in one book. It is worthwhile to sit down and really study these books when you first get them. They contain a great deal of information about using the telephone, special services that are available (including time, weather, or traffic information), rates, times of the week when you can phone most cheaply, area codes, state zip codes, and so on. The Yellow Pages lists all businesses, organizations, restaurants, stores, and services in your area in such a way that you can quickly find whatever you need. If you study that directory, you will learn much about your city and the range of what is available: schools, clubs, organizations, public swimming pools, all kinds of instruction and classes, information about where to buy special foods or spices; shops for all sorts of goods; restaurants by nationality; and places where you can rent furniture, television sets, stereos, children's cribs, crutches, or a wide range of articles (look under "Rental Service").
The Yellow Pages, which is updated every year, can become one of your best friends if you take the trouble to get to know it well.
Telephone Credit Cards
As soon as you select your telephone company and have your own number, you can call the business office and ask for a credit card. This is free and is a great convenience, enabling you to make calls from any telephone, public or private, and have the call charged to your home account. This often saves you from having to struggle with exact change in a telephone booth, particularly for a long-distance call, and makes it possible to call from a friend's home or office without imposing on his or her generosity. Be careful about using your card very often; the charge for doing so can be shockingly high.
Public Telephones
Public telephones here are still widespread, but they are not as easy to find as they once were due to the popularity of cell phones. You will find public phones in bus and air terminals, railroad stations, stores, hotels, the lobbies of many office buildings, restaurants, gasoline stations, and in small booths along streets and highways. Instructions for use are found on each phone. Long-distance and overseas calls can also be made from public telephones, but you must have either a telephone credit card or a handful of change in nickels, dimes, and quarters; sometimes you can bill calls to a regular credit card. If you would like the recipient to pay the charges, ask the operator to make it a "collect" call or say you wish to reverse the charges. All operator services cost extra.
Answering Machines and Voice Mail
Answering machines are now so popular that you will find your colleagues and friends upset if you don't have one on your private phone as well as on your business phone. You will hear a message indicating that the person you called is not available and inviting you to leave a message at the "sound of the tone." This may seem to be a very impersonal practice, but it allows busy people to receive or deliver messages and return calls. Answering machines can be purchased from any store selling phones. Remember, though, that with both message machines and phones, you generally get what you pay for, so avoid the least expensive sets. Voice mail is a service that provides you with a personal mailbox for your telephone messages. Rather than a machine in your home, your messages are recorded by your telephone company and can be retrieved from home or from another phone by using a pass-code.
Cellular (Mobile) Phones
As in many countries, cell phones proliferate here. There are a myriad of options available to you, including "pay-as-you-go" plans and flat rates for unlimited calls at specific times or to specific numbers. The same companies that offer residential telephone service offer cellular service, along with Cingular, Cellular 1, and T-Mobile, among others. While you will undoubtedly see people doing it, it is considered rude to chat on the telephone in restaurants and other public places. Some busy commuter trains now offer "phone-free" sections.
Packages
There are many rules and regulations governing the mailing of packages. Permissible sizes and weights vary. Double-check before mailing anything that is potentially explosive or flammable; it may be permitted but will likely require special labeling and handling (for example, sent overland rather than by air). Tape is now used to secure parcels instead of string, which used to catch in the postal machines. You can buy strong packing tape in stationery stores, most supermarkets, pharmacies, and at the post office. Note that if you send something priority or express mail, the post office provides a variety of boxes for free.
There are special rates (called media mail) for books and printed matter. Ask the postal clerk about them. If you are sending books overseas, ask about surface and air postage rates.
United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, and other commercial services are taking over much of the package delivery service within the United States and overseas, being both cheaper and quicker than the postal service in many cases. It is worth calling them for any large packages (check the phone book). You can drop your package off in designated locations or have the company pick it up from your house or office; they charge for doing so.
Recent years have seen a communication revolution. New digital technology, including the Internet, satellite communications, and fiber optics make getting your message — around the block or around the world — faster and, in most cases, cheaper. Still the old-fashioned ways are not yet displaced completely, and you will surely want to write a letter sooner or later.
Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service is sometimes criticized by Americans for losing mail and for being slow, especially in the large cities, where millions of pieces are handled daily. Deliveries are made once a day, but not on Sundays. Despite rising costs, however, the Postal Service remains one of our country's greatest bargains. The same stamp that carries your letter across town will just as inexpensively carry it across the country. There are still places in the U.S. where mail is delivered by airplane, and at least one village in the Grand Canyon receives its mail by pack mule! One quirk of the English language to keep in mind is that in the U.S., the Postal Service brings the mail (unlike in England, where the Royal Mail brings the post!).
There are often long lines at post offices, so it is a good idea to buy books of stamps or rolls of stamps to avoid frequent trips to the post office. For ordinary mail within the United States, buy a supply of first-class stamps; for overseas, buy a supply of air-letter forms or lightweight stationery and appropriate stamps. The cost for overseas postage varies from country to country, so you will have to ask. If you have these supplies for your normal daily needs, you can then drop your letters into the nearest mailbox and avoid standing in long lines at the post office. Remember, though, to have your letter weighed if you suspect it is over the allotted weight. If you must go to the post office, try to avoid the lunch hour and the four to five o'clock rush when every mailing clerk in the city is bringing in the day's office mail.
In the United States, zip codes follow the name of the city and state; they do not precede the city as in Europe, South America, and other places. The proper format within the U.S. is as follows:
Most post offices offer post office boxes, which can be rented for a period of months. You will be given a key or combination to pick up your mail. This can be very convenient if your stay will be short or if you move several times during your stay.
Remember to put your mail on "hold" while you are away for vacation or business, and to forward it when you move. This will prevent someone from intercepting your mail (and gaining access to your credit card and bank account numbers). Ask for instructions on how to do so at any post office.
Sending Money by Mail
If you want to send money abroad by mail, be sure to ask for an international postal money order. You must clearly specify that you want an international form.
Types of Mail Service
Inside the United States, all first-class mail is shipped by air without extra cost. An airmail indication is not needed on the envelope. If you want to be sure an important letter has been received, send it certified or ask for delivery confirmation. Be aware that certified mail travels more slowly, as it must be logged at each station along the way. For extra cost, it is possible to use express mail for overnight delivery.
The post office is only one of a growing number of express delivery companies, and prices for an overnight letter vary.
By Car
Americans' love affair with the automobile is legendary, even notorious. If you live in a large city, you may very well be able to avoid the hassle and expense of owning a car. Also, many college towns and enlightened small cities (such as Portland, Oregon) are still accessible by foot or public transportation. But poor regional planning has made it difficult, or even impossible, for anyone living in most of the country to get around comfortably without a motorized vehicle.
Costs
Owning a car in any U.S. city is expensive. In addition to the original cost of the car, one has to pay heavy insurance premiums. Rates vary by city and by coverage, but one can pay substantial amounts in insurance alone in congested cities. In addition, the car must be registered and licensed (fee depends on the weight or type of car). The cost of a driver's license must be added to that. The price of gasoline, although low by world standards, is still substantial, and parking costs are often very high, particularly in large cities.
There are no customs or other duty charges on a private imported car if it is shipped home again within one year; however, if you sell it in the United States within a year, you will have to pay duty — based on the appraised value of the car at the time of import. Be sure to bring your registration papers or proof of ownership. This is very important. Check with your nearest U.S. consulate or with your local automobile club on the latest rulings and charges before you come. There are also strict regulations regarding the pollution emissions of cars. Your car will have to be adapted to conform to these rules. This can be prohibitively expensive for foreign cars.
In many states, a car tax is added to the registration fee (done once a year), the amount dependent on the age and make of the car. Also, most states require an inspection once a year or every six months to determine that the car is safe to drive.
Licensing
If you bring your car to the U.S., you get an international registration marker for it before leaving home. You will be allowed to drive to your destination with your national license plates or tags, but immediately on arrival you must obtain American license plates from the state in which you will be living. Each state has its own Department (or Registry) of Motor Vehicles (see your local telephone directory for the address), which issues both license and registration. Motorists may have to take a test and secure a U.S. driver's license unless they come from a country that is party to the International Convention on Road Traffic (1949) or the Inter-American Convention (1943), in which case they must carry an international driving permit. In many states, you are required to obtain a local driver's license immediately (or within 30 or 90 days) of taking up residence. If you buy a car in the United States, you must obtain a driver's license for the state where you live within a set time. And if you move to another state, you must do the same. Since regulations are complicated and vary somewhat from state to state, play it safe and call the Department of Motor Vehicles in your town or city to inquire about licensing and license plates.
Bring lots of documentation; requirements for issuing driver's licenses have become more onerous since September 11, 2001. Department of Motor Vehicle personnel commonly insist on seeing passports, notices from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, Social Security cards, and proof of local addresses.
It is also wise to have at least a few hours of professional instruction no matter how well you drive, to learn rules of the road, local requirements, and, especially, American "driving psychology." Brazilian, Greek, Japanese, and French drivers all behave differently behind a wheel; so do Americans. Just as important are the informal road rules that vary from city to city. Etiquette for passing and merging is different in Boston and New York; both are very different from that in Portland, Oregon, or Portland, Maine.
Each state's Department of Motor Vehicles will give you a free booklet, upon request, covering state rules. It is important to remember: ignorance of the law is never considered an excuse if you run into trouble. You are expected to learn the law and abide by it when you drive.
Automobile Insurance
It is imperative that you protect yourself with liability insurance (covering damage to the other person), and you should insure yourself at a substantial level, not the minimum. If you should hit someone, damages charged here can be astronomically high. Lawyers assume that insurance companies (not the individual) will pay, so they ask damage fees accordingly. If you are not covered, you can be financially ruined by gigantic fees charged for injury, fright, shock, or other complaints — even if the accident appeared to you to be slight. Not everyone presses such suits, but enough people do so that you need to be well protected. Although insurance is costly, it is absolutely necessary and is legally required in most of the country. Insurance premiums vary, depending on the age and sex of the driver, the type of car, and the geographic area; premiums for young, single men who own sports cars are extremely high.
Buying a Car
Barring any strikes or emergency delays, you receive delivery on a new car quite quickly in this country. American manufacturers are still building cars with high horsepower and low mileage per gallon of gas. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) as well as small cars, both American-and foreign-made (or a combination thereof) are also very popular. In general, foreign cars are easy to obtain and to keep repaired, although repair and parts may be more expensive. Hybrid vehicles — ones that run on a combination of electricity and traditional gasoline — are gaining popularity. Very few cars in the U.S. use diesel fuel, but if you do get one, be extremely careful to use the correct fuel when refilling (see "Service Stations" later in this section for more details).
Don't buy a car at what is called "list price" until you have talked to a number of people about it. Automobiles are perhaps the one commodity in the United States where haggling is still expected. Prices can usually be "bargained down" and can vary considerably among dealerships. Prices also fluctuate markedly from one month to another, depending on how close it is to the appearance of new models. If you buy in the fall, just before the new models become available, dealers are trying to get rid of last year's models, and you can get a good bargain as a result. Ask and explore; don't buy too fast. There are very good Websites (www.cars.com/ and www.edmunds.com/ are two of them) that can be extremely informative about how much you should expect to pay for a particular vehicle.
Car dealers make their greatest profit in two ways: (1) on extras and (2) on arranging the financing and insurance.
Extras. Extras are the multitude of optional features, which all dealers try hard to sell: radios, cassette players, special paint color, air conditioning, fancy seat covers, extended warranties, sunroofs, and other items that are not standard. Dealers are skilled at selling these items, but you do not need to buy them. If you are persuaded by a clever salesperson, you may end up paying a considerable amount of money for features that you will not need.
Financing and Insuring. Dealers normally charge higher interest rates than banks when they arrange the terms of financing. Over the months or years of payment, this can be a considerable amount. Look into alternative possibilities before you buy. Generally, you will do better to take out your own bank loan rather than work through a car dealer, who, after all, must take his or her share, and then work with a bank anyway. Dealers will do their best to persuade you to finance the car through them, but it is not required. Don't feel obligated.
Secondhand Cars
The drop in value of American cars after a year or two is so great that many people buy used cars rather than new ones. Prices depend on the age of the car, its condition, its size and make, the area of the country where it is bought, and the time of year. Here are two suggestions that will help you:
Be especially careful when buying a secondhand car that is older than four years.
Never go alone. Take someone with you who not only knows cars well but also knows the ways of American dealers.
Often it is an advantage to go to an area where wealthy people live to find your car. They turn their cars in more often than less affluent people, and the cars are normally in good condition.
Used-car dealers vary widely as to reliability; try to deal with one that has been recommended to you. Generally speaking, your chances will be better with a reputable dealer (one that represents one or more specific brands of new cars) than at a used-car lot, though you will see a lot of these outside most big cities.
Many people do their buying outside city limits for a couple of reasons. The dealer's reputation is at stake in a small town, so he or she tends to be more careful than in the anonymity of a large city. Second, a smaller dealer may be more motivated to sell a car. However, do not think that you can avoid paying sales tax by buying in another location. Sales taxes are usually assessed when you register the car, and it is based on your residence, not the location of the dealer. Many people buy used cars without going through a dealer at all. Classified advertisements in newspapers and on the Internet can help you find a bargain. Be aware, however, that there are fewer buyer protections for a privately arranged sale.
It takes time and trouble to buy a secondhand car. If you do not have a friend or colleague who knows cars well, take a garage mechanic whom you trust with you. It is worth what you have to pay for his or her time. Many mechanics are glad to do such consulting work after hours or on weekends. Determine the price of this service in advance, however.
Be sure you actually drive the car before buying. You will be allowed to do so. If you haven't brought a mechanic with you, take the car to a nearby garage and ask the mechanic to test it out and give you an opinion as to its condition. There are certain key points he will look for that will give him a quick idea of the car's general condition. It is worth paying something for a careful examination by a mechanic whom you trust. Do this before you sign any papers. Before you buy any car — new or used — talk to people at your office or college or to any friends you have made. There are various tricks of the trade that you should know.
Another way to arrange an inspection of a used car is for you to arrange to pay a mechanic for the car directly; he or she is therefore working for you. The seller then takes the car to the mechanic at a convenient time, avoiding the hassle of your trying to juggle three schedules — yours, the seller's and the mechanic's — to do this yourself.
Leasing a Car
Leasing has become quite popular in the United States. It can be a particularly attractive option if you plan to live in the United States for only a few years and don't want the trouble of having to sell a car before you leave. Typically, leases last for two to three years, during which time you make monthly payments. At the end of the lease, you simply return the car to the original dealer with no remaining obligations. Lease rates tend to be high, though, and most dealers require you to carry extra insurance.
Leasing has two major drawbacks. First, if you decide you don't want to keep the car for the duration of the lease and wish to return it early, you may be obligated to pay the dealer the difference in the value of the car from the date you first leased it to the date you return it. Second, if you exceed the number of miles stated in the original contract, you will be charged a penalty per mile. These can sometimes add up to thousands of dollars. If you're sure you will keep the car for a set period of time and can predict the distance you will travel, however, a lease is an option to consider.
Renting a Car
With street parking so difficult, parking rates so high, and streets so crowded, increasing numbers of city dwellers find owning a car in the city not worth the effort. Instead, they use public transportation within the city and rent a car only when they need one for out-of-town trips or vacations. Most overseas visitors are likely to find this by far the cheapest and easiest method, too. There are many rental companies everywhere. You can rent by the day, week, month, or year.
If you work in the United States, your own firm may have a special discount arrangement with a particular rental agency — companies often do. It is worth asking about this at work. Some agencies have had bad experiences and will not rent to individuals from abroad because of past insurance difficulties or problems with payments. On the other hand, other agencies give additional discounts to visitors from abroad as a special courtesy. You will need to explore a bit and make inquiries.
Costs are usually determined by length of rental time and size of car. Insurance is extra. However, there are other options: some agencies also charge by mileage, others do not; some require that you return the car to its starting point, others will rent cars for one-way travel between cities, although the cost for one-way rentals may be considerably higher.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drugs
The United States is trying to stop drunken driving — as are many other countries. Still, nearly 20,000 people a year in the U.S. are killed annually in alcohol-related crashes — nearly half of all traffic deaths. State laws vary on this, but police can stop drivers and require them to take breath or blood tests in many states if they suspect the driver of being under the influence of alcohol. Penalties vary from state to state: fines for a first offense, overnight (or longer) imprisonment, suspension of license, and/or, in some areas, required community service (working as assistants in hospitals or nursing homes, for instance), or alcohol counseling.
Theft of Cars and From Cars
Unfortunately, car theft is quite common. You can expect little sympathy if your car was not locked or if the key was left in the ignition. The registration papers and your driver's license should be kept with you and not in the glove compartment, where they would be convenient for the thief but not for you when trying to recover a stolen car! Many people keep photocopies of these papers in the car.
Care should be taken regarding any possessions left in the car. If you must leave something, put it in the trunk or out of sight on the floor, even if the car is locked. If you are traveling across the country in a loaded car, try to park it where you can see it when you stop for meals. At night take all visible items with you into your motel or hotel. Put the rest in the locked trunk.
Service Stations
Cars are now made to take only unleaded gasoline. Leaded gasoline pollutes the air and can cause lead poisoning, especially in small children.
Prices vary by company and by area or state, depending on local taxes, but in general gasoline in the United States is cheaper than in most countries of the world. You can pay with cash or credit card. The U.S. gallon is approximately four liters, slightly smaller than the British imperial gallon.
At full-service stations or full-service islands, you can ask for free services, such as checking the oil and tires, and cleaning the windshield. You do not tip gas station attendants for any of these services. You can order gas by asking for a specific number of gallons, by price ("eight dollars' worth, please"), or by asking to have the tank filled up. Most tanks hold from ten to twenty gallons when full.
Most stations have self-service islands, where you put in your own gas, usually at a reduced price, and forgo other services. If your car takes diesel fuel, be sure to use diesel. Fuel pumps are designed to prevent accidentally filling a gasoline car with diesel, but not the other way around. Driving a diesel engine with gasoline will result in an unbelievably high repair bill. Even if you are relying on an attendant, be sure to remind him or her that your car takes diesel. In many gas stations, self-serve is the only option, although in a small number of states (at the time of this writing, New Jersey and Oregon), self-serve gas is not permitted and you must wait for an attendant.
If your engine is hot, do not ask the attendant to check the water in your radiator. So many attendants have been badly burned by gushing steam and water that this is no longer a regular service.
Traffic Rules
Cars travel on the right throughout the United States. By law, one must signal not only for all turns but also for lane changes. Traffic laws are being enforced more and more strictly as congestion problems grow ever more acute in American cities and on the highways. If you hear the sirens of fire trucks, ambulances, or police cars approaching, immediately pull over to the right and stop or slow down to let them pass.
Horn blowing is not appreciated and is prohibited in some cities; don't try to move traffic along by using your horn. You could be fined and you will surely attract the anger of other motorists.
If you come to a yellow school bus at a standstill and with flashing red lights, even if it has stopped on the opposite side of the road, you must stop your car. This law is strictly enforced because children may be running across the road to or from the bus.
Never stop your car on a highway. If you have a problem or want to read a map or change drivers, drive the car (or push it) well to the side of the road and switch on the emergency lights. Speeds on our highways are so fast that a stopped car is extremely dangerous, for oncoming drivers cannot see that it is stationary until they are too close to stop or swerve to avoid a collision.
Never pass on a curve or near the top of a hill; don't ever cross solid yellow or white lines, double or single. These are among the most common offenses police look for. They also watch for anyone going through a red light or a stop sign at an intersection or making a U-turn on a highway. In some states you can turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop if you are in the outside lane; in others, you cannot. Also, some intersections are marked "no right turn on red." You can be stopped and fined for any of these faults.
Traffic lights are controlled for different speeds; in large cities these vary depending on the area, flow of traffic, and time of day. Often they are set for 25 miles per hour. If you try to find and maintain the set speed, you will "make" most lights and flow with the traffic. Talk to taxi drivers about this. They are experts at making lights and can give you many tips.
Speed Limits
Although you will see people driving at high speeds, speed limits can be — and often are — strictly enforced by radar, by police helicopters, by unmarked police cars, and sometimes by regular police cars that radio to one another up and down the highways.
Watch all road signs carefully as you drive along. Speed limits change frequently at various locations. Do what they say. They may decrease suddenly, for example, at the approach to a small town or built-up area, a factory roadway, or a railroad. They are particularly enforced in school zones, which extend on either side of any school, are clearly posted as "School Zone," and are usually posted at 15 miles per hour. It is essential to reduce speed drastically in such zones. Small children may cross the road by themselves on their way to or from school; they may also play and ride bicycles along the edge of the road and therefore create a hazard.
Parking Rules
When you park a car, read the signs carefully. Parking regulations vary in different parts of the city, at different times of the day, on different days of the week, or during different seasons of the year. The only way you can know what is legal for that particular spot is to read the sign. Many cars are towed away each day by city police for parking violations. It is not worth the risk to disobey the rules. You must pay the towing cost, expenses for actually retrieving your car, and a heavy fine for parking illegally in the first place. The whole thing can add up to several hundred dollars. In addition, you go through endless red tape, embarrassment, and inconvenience. Be careful not to park near fire hydrants, bus stops, private driveways, or too near the corner at intersections. Being towed away can result from any of these parking violations, as well as for being in a "no parking" area. In cities where it snows during the winter, signs are often posted for snow removal after a storm. Do not park on a street so posted.
The following are some common parking rules:
No stopping. This means what it says, you cannot park or even stop.
No parking. Here you may stop long enough to pick up or discharge passengers or to drop off merchandise. You can stop your car for a brief time if someone stays in the driver's seat and is able to move the car if necessary.
No standing. You may only drop people off or pick them up if you can do it quickly. You cannot wait for anyone, and you cannot leave the car while you deliver a parcel or message.
Fire hydrants. The rule is no standing or parking within 15 feet.
Bus stops and taxi stands. If you do not interfere with traffic, you can pause briefly, but you cannot get out of the car. You must be able to move at a moment's notice.
Hitchhikers
You will sometimes see people of either sex "thumbing" a ride, especially along the main highways. Do not stop for them. Unfortunately, this practice can be quite dangerous, as hitchhikers may not be as innocent as they look. Furthermore, in many states it is as illegal to pick up a person as it is to ask for rides. You can be fined quite heavily and lose your insurance for picking up a hitchhiker.
Finding Restrooms
A newly arrived visitor from Scotland was asked what had been the most difficult thing for him on his first day in the United States. Without a moment's hesitation, he answered, "Finding a men's room."
Some countries have public restrooms plainly visible on the street or in small buildings that are clearly marked. The United States does not. Americans find facilities in such public places as restaurants, libraries, museums, or department stores. Reasonably clean restrooms are available at most gasoline stations, but toilets at bus terminals or railroad stations may be unpleasant, and restrooms in subway stations are sometimes unsafe.
You can always go into a hotel and use the facilities, whether or not you are registered there as a guest; you will usually find them somewhere off the main lobby. Many Americans use the restrooms at national fast-food franchises, even if they are not customers. Although the restaurant owners are probably displeased by this practice, the staff rarely seem to mind. The restrooms there are usually clean and, except in very large cities, unlocked and easy to find.
Don't be confused by the name on the door. Sometimes it is marked "Men" or "omen," sometimes "Gentlemen" or "Ladies," or there may be no words used at all, just a picture of a woman or a man or some other clue painted on the door. The European designations "comfort station" or "W.C." are not used. If you are in need, just ask for the "men's room" or the "ladies' room." Some theme-based restaurants may use other languages or even puns based on their themes. One Australia-themed chain restaurant, for example, uses "blokes" for men and "sheilas" for women, and one canine-themed restaurant uses "pointers" for men and "setters" for women!
In a large hotel or restaurant, leave a tip in the small saucer if there is an attendant — 50¢ is common. One does not tip in clubs, but a smile and a friendly word are appreciated. In some public restrooms there may also be some "pay toilets," although these have been abolished by law in most states. A coin must be inserted in the door to unlock the stall so you may enter.