SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — When you see a patrol car with its lights flashing on the side of a South Dakota road, you’re required to move to the furthest lane.
One driver didn’t do that and drove off with a warning.
“We try to educate people as much as we can, you know. When we come across violations of the move over law, a lot of times it’s more of an education thing than it is just writing citations, so it’s obviously, it’s for the safety of any vehicle that’s utilizing, whether you have your flashers on or your emergency lights,” said Sgt. Seth Hodges with the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.
On roads with just two lanes, you need to slow down 20 miles below the speed limit.
That’s been the law since 2003.
“A violation of this law is a class two misdemeanor. It comes with a $270 fine,” said Hodges.
Starting next week, South Dakota’s move over law will expand to include any vehicle with flashing lights, even if it’s not fully stopped.
“And so an example of that would be a utility truck that has its amber lights on and is driving down the, you know, the shoulder of the road, not necessarily stopped. That law would also include those vehicles,” Hodges said.
The change takes effect on Tuesday, July 1.
