Moving Over for Stopped Vehicles
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-283b — slow down and move over a lane; up to $5,000 when an emergency worker is hurt
On a highway with two or more lanes in the same direction, an operator approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped, or going well below the limit, on the shoulder, a lane or the breakdown lane slows at once to a reasonable speed below the posted limit and, if in the lane next to it, moves over one lane unless that would be unreasonable or unsafe.
Who handles this in Connecticut: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Connecticut directory.
- Emergency vehicle here means one with flashing lights operated by an emergency medical service, a fire department, a police officer, or a maintenance vehicle or wrecker.
- On a two lane road with traffic going both ways, the operator slows to a reasonable speed below the limit until safely past.
- For any other vehicle stopped on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such a highway, the operator in the next lane moves over one lane unless that would be unreasonable or unsafe.
| What happened | Penalty |
|---|---|
| What happenedA violation | PenaltyAn infraction |
| What happenedIt injured someone in or operating the emergency vehicle | PenaltyA fine of up to $5,000 |
| What happenedIt killed someone in or operating the emergency vehicle | PenaltyA fine of up to $20,000 |
Sources for this section (1)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-283b — Motor vehicle operator required to move over or reduce speed when approaching emergency vehicle that is stationary or traveling significantly below speed limit and nonemergency vehicle that is stationary and located on shoulder. Penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Connecticut attorney.