If a car door latch is it legal to drive on the street holding shut?

No, it is illegal to drive a car with a damaged door latch. A door latch is an essential safety feature that helps to keep the doors closed while the vehicle is in motion. If the door latch is damaged, the door may open unexpectedly, which could cause the driver or passengers to be thrown from the vehicle. This could lead to serious injury or death. In addition, driving with a damaged door latch is a safety hazard to other motorists, as it could distract them from driving and cause an accident.