JOP Stahl warns motorists to slow down near emergency vehicles

What was at one-point common sense seems to have been lost on people and Phillips County Justice of the Peace Gayle Stahl thinks it is high time for a reminder: when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle on the highway, slow down and keep emergency personnel’s safety in mind when passing.

“In the last two weeks, we have got 50 citations written, Judge Stahl said. “People are in a hurry to get everyplace, and the law is on the books, but we have had so many people injured recently that the (Montana) Highway Patrol has started writing tickets.”

Montana Codes Annotated 61-8-34 states that:

Except as provided in subsection (4), upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle that is displaying visible signals of flashing or rotating amber, blue, red, or green lights, the operator of the approaching vehicle shall:

(a) reduce the vehicle's speed, proceed with caution, and, if possible considering safety and traffic conditions, move to a lane that is not adjacent to the lane in which the authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle is located or move as far away from the authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle as possible; or

(b) if changing lanes is not possible or is determined to be unsafe, reduce the vehicle's speed, proceed with caution, and maintain a reduced speed, appropriate to the road and the conditions, through the area where the authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle is stopped.

(4) Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle that is displaying visible signals of flashing or rotating amber, blue, red, or green lights on a public highway with a posted speed limit of 50 miles per hour or greater when driving in a lane that is directly next to the emergency vehicle or police vehicle, the operator of the approaching vehicle shall reduce the vehicle's speed by at least 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

Judge Stahl said that a first offense citation for violating the above law is an $85 fine and 2 points on the driver’s driving record.

“Slow down,” Judge Stahl said. “Just slow down and proceed with caution. We want to keep all our law enforcement and medical responders safe so please, just slow down.”