Beefed up “Move Over Law” takes effect in South Dakota today

July 1, 2020

PIERRE, S.D.–New provisions in South Dakota’s Move Over law take effect today.

Senate Bill 164 was passed by the 2020 state Legislature. The new provisions include raising the minimum fine for a violation for the move over law to $270.

If a driver fails to move over and causes a crash with an emergency vehicle, the offense increases to a Class 1 misdemeanor, and along with moving over for emergency vehicles that are displaying flashing amber lights, traffic is now required to move over for authorized vehicles that use a blue light while working on a highway.

All traffic must still stop for emergency vehicles flashing red lights.

The bill was carried in the Senate by Republican John Wiik of Big Stone City. 

The law change was spurred by the death of Dale Jones (pictured), a Watertown tow truck driver who died in January when he was struck and killed while trying to pull a vehicle out of the ditch.