Ask a State Trooper

[Lee Borgersen]

 





                    Ask a State Trooper: 

                      Passing a parked emergency vehicle




Q: What is the rule about passing a parked emergency vehicle?


In this week's Matters of Record, six drivers were fined $50 for passing a parked emergency vehicle with two lanes in same direction. Perhaps we all need a reminder as to what the law is regarding passing or getting around a parked emergency vehicle. Thanks for addressing my question.

 


A: Great question. I have been a trooper for more than 17 years and my patrol car has been hit by other vehicles while at crash scenes a couple of times. Many of my law enforcement partners have been struck as well. Almost all of these types of incidents are avoidable by slowing down and moving into the other lane of traffic in the same direction. If the other lane is occupied by other vehicles, please slow down and provide law enforcement room to work.


Minnesota State Statute 169.18S11 says that when traveling on a road with two or more lanes, drivers must keep over one full lane away from stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated — ambulance, fire, law enforcement, maintenance and construction vehicles.

The law was created in memory of Cpl. Ted Foss of the Minnesota State Patrol who lost his life 15 years ago. Cpl. Foss was working a traffic stop on Interstate 90 when he was hit and killed by a passing vehicle on Aug. 31, 2000. The law applies to all of these types of vehicles, including tow trucks.

Law enforcement has been enforcing this law in an effort to educate and promote safety when approaching and passing a parked vehicle with flashing lights. Fines can exceed $100. Motorists should also be encouraged to drive without distractions, pay attention to their surroundings, keep their vision down the road and slow down ahead of time for any hazard.


Sgt. Neil Dickenson is a public information officer with the Minnesota State Patrol.


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[ray634]

I was informed by LEO that they want you to slow to 20 mph below posted limit. He said he would often sit behind a traffic stop with radar on and look for those not slowing by 20.

[Bobby Bass]

Could find nothing in the statues about a 20mph reduction in speed.  Only about moving to the farthest safe lane. In many cases a speed reduction is more of a threat for rear end collisions from gawkers.