Did you know...

farrijc

farrijc

Active member
That if a cop or other emergency vehicle is pulled over on the side of the road, that you are required to slow down to 20 mph under the speed limit?? I had no idea, but that didn't stop the officer from giving me a ticket :cursing: Clearly he is aware that not everyone knows that... Otherwise why would I not have slowed down more? He was clearly visible.
 
never heard of that! I think it varies by state. I know where we've lived before you are required to clear the lane closest to them. Here they have signs to slow down and move over, but nothing post about the laws regardingit
 
Here, as far as I know, it's just required that you clear the lane closest as well, we also have signs saying to move over for stopped police and emergency vehicles.
 
Here, you're supposed to get into the opposite lane, but if you can't, then you have to slow down. They've never stated how much you have to slow down though. I'll have to look into that.
 
In Canada, we have to slow to 60kph (on the highway) if there is a cop, or any emergency vehicle, and also move over, if possible.

And oi...If you speed in a construction zone...triple speeding fines!
 
I think it's move over or slow down here. They talk about it all the time and have never specified a number for how much to slow down. I usually just try to drive as cautiously as possible around them.

Sorry you got a ticket! I hope it's not too big!
 
I've always thought you should slow down and get over if possible. However, I didn't know it was an actual law that you could get a ticket for breaking, and I had no idea there was any kind of number attached to how much you have to slow down. I think it's kind of crappy that I got a ticket instead of a warning considering I didn't know any better...
 
I didn't know there was such a law either - I thought is was more of a safety/courtesy rule of thumb. I just looked up Arizona's law and it requires that you move to the far lane "if possible" or proceed with due caution and "safe" speed. Sorry to hear about your ticket but thanks for the public safety announcment!
 
Well, this got me curious, so I went and looked up the law here in Utah. You have to "reduce speed and provide as much space as practical." No mention of a specific speed. I think having a specific speed is kind of silly. Sorry that happened to you, Jill.
 
I would think that slowing down that much would cause a traffic hazard... but I suppose if everyone did it... as far as I know in WI, we only need to move over to the other lane... and that isn't something I learned in driver's ed... saw that on the news when the police were upset that no one was doing it...
 
It's a safety concern for the police officer. Have you ever been pulled over on the side of the road when people are driving fast? It shakes your car, think about standing there doing your job in that. And technically, ignorance of the law doesn't exempt you from the law, you are expected to know all laws (as impractical as that can be). While it sucks that you got a ticket and that you didn't just get a warning, perhaps this officer has seen what an issue its been, maybe he's already been hit or nearly hit by someone not slowing down and a warning to him will not solve the issue. I have a number of family members in law enforcement, I worry about their safety all the time. Just thought I would give the other point of view.
 
Virginia law says:
(i) on a highway having at least four lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that occupied by the stationary emergency vehicle or (ii) if changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions.

And if you don't it's a first degree misdemeanor ticket & up to a $2500 fine.

It would be nice if they defined 'safe speeds' as the only 4 lane road around here has speed limits varying from 65 to 35MPH.
 
My husband got a ticket a couple of years ago for the very same thing. We were told move over to next lane or slow down by at least 10 mph or there will be a ticket and its a big one. We've seen them set up traps to catch this, so as soon as we see those lights we're moving over. Sorry you got a ticket!
 
I did know that. Here in Florida you are required to do one of two things though. Slow down like you said although I am not positive of the exact speed it is right now or you can move into the other lane if it is a multi-lane highway. So if he is on the right shoulder moving into the left lane and still proceeding at the speed limit is ok as well.
 
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