<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 32-31-6 - Duty of other motorists upon approach of emergency vehicle--Violation as misdemeanor. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2055149Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2055149SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2055149CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2055149Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2055149DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2055149000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2055149SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2055149SCL-000002 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2055149Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=32-31-6"><span class="s2055149SENU">32-31-6</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2055149SENU">. </span><span class="s2055149CL">Duty of other motorists upon approach of emergency vehicle--Violation as misdemeanor.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2055149Normal-000000"><span class="s2055149DefaultParagraphFont">Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible or visual signals meeting the requirements of this chapter, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible or visual signal only, the driver of every other vehicle shall immediately drive to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, or in case of a one-way highway the nearest edge or curb, clear of any intersection of highways, and shall stop and remain in such position unless otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer until the authorized emergency vehicle shall have passed. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2055149Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2055149000001"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2055149Normal"><span class="s2055149SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2055149SCL-000002"> SDC 1939, § 44.0320; SL 1959, ch 252, § 1; SL 1989, ch 255, § 214; SL 2007, ch 186, § 3.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en-US"><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 32-31-6 - Duty of other motorists upon approach of emergency vehicle--Violation as misdemeanor. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML"><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fNormal { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; 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margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6f000000 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fNoIndent { text-indent: 0.00in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont-000001 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fSCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"><meta property="og:title" content="SD 32-31-6.1 - Occupying highway shoulder or stopped--Requirements for approaching vehicles--Penalty."><meta property="og:description" content="SDLRC Codified Law 32-31-6.1 - Occupying highway shoulder or stopped--Requirements for approaching vehicles--Penalty."><meta property="og:type" content="website"><meta property="og:url" content="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/32-31-6.1"><meta property="og:image" content="https://lawmakerdocuments.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/photos/logoshape.webp"><meta property="og:site_name" content="South Dakota Legislature"></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fNormal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=32-31-6.1" rel="noopener"><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fSENU">32-31-6.1</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fSENU">. </span><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fCL">Occupying highway shoulder or stopped--Requirements for approaching vehicles--Penalty.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fStatute"><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont">Upon approaching from any direction any stopped authorized emergency vehicle making use of red visual signals meeting the requirements of this title, the driver of a motor vehicle shall come to a complete stop before reaching the stopped emergency vehicle and may, unless otherwise directed, proceed with caution only after ascertaining that it is safe to do so.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fStatute"><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont">Upon approaching from any direction any vehicle that is either stopped or occupying the shoulder of the highway, and using amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, the driver of any other motor vehicle must:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fStatuteNumber1"><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont">(1)    If driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction as the vehicle, merge into the lane farthest from the vehicle at least three hundred feet before the vehicle and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fStatuteNumber1"><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont">(2)    If driving on a two-lane highway, at least three hundred feet before the vehicle, slow to a speed that is at least twenty miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or five miles per hour when the speed limit is posted at twenty miles per hour or less and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fStatute"><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont">A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor and has a minimum fine of two hundred seventy dollars.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fNormal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6f000000"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fNoIndent"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fDefaultParagraphFont-000001">Source: </span><span class="sace0138a367b49308a2e3ba4c95f8a6fSCL">SL 1975, ch 210, § 2; SL 1989, ch 255, § 215; SL 2003, ch 173, § 1; SL 2020, ch 127, § 1; SL 2025, ch 130, § 1.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en-US"><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 32-31-6 - Duty of other motorists upon approach of emergency vehicle--Violation as misdemeanor. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML"><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383Normal { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; 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line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont-000001 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"><meta property="og:title" content="SD 32-31-6.2 - Occupying highway shoulder or stopped--Accident caused--Penalty."><meta property="og:description" content="SDLRC Codified Law 32-31-6.2 - Occupying highway shoulder or stopped--Accident caused--Penalty."><meta property="og:type" content="website"><meta property="og:url" content="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/32-31-6.2"><meta property="og:image" content="https://lawmakerdocuments.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/photos/logoshape.webp"><meta property="og:site_name" content="South Dakota Legislature"></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=32-31-6.2" rel="noopener"><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383SENU">32-31-6.2</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383SENU">. </span><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383CL">Occupying highway shoulder or stopped--Accident caused--Penalty.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383Statute"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont">Any driver of a motor vehicle who, while violating § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=32-31-6.1" rel="noopener"><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont">32-31-6.1</span></a><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont">, causes an accident, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383StatuteNumber1"><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    The accident is with a stopped emergency vehicle making use of its red visual signals; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383StatuteNumber1"><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    The accident is with any vehicle making use of amber, yellow, or blue warning lights and the vehicle is either stopped or occupying the shoulder of the highway.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383000000"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383NoIndent"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383DefaultParagraphFont-000001">Source: </span><span class="sb9a46a7db1814c59bf2d3b0185380383SCL">SL 2020, ch 127, § 2; SL 2025, ch 130, § 2.</span></p></div></body></html>