According to Kansas state law, failing to move over for an emergency response vehicle will result in a fine of $75 if the offense occurred on a four-lane road or highway. The fine goes up to $105 if you are caught failing to move over for an emergency vehicle on a two-lane road.

Police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders face grave risks when responding to calls on Kansas roadways. Sadly, being struck by passing vehicles is a leading cause of death for these heroes in (and sometimes out of) uniform. Since the 1990s, there has been a significant effort made to pass laws to protect first responders from passing vehicles while they tend to emergencies.

Today, every state (with the exception of Washington, D.C.) has a move over law on its books. That’s why the

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What are the move over laws in Kansas?

In Kansas, the state’s move over law requires drivers to do the following when approaching emergency vehicles bearing authorized flashing lights and audible signals:

Vacate the lane closest to the parked emergency vehicle if it is safe and possible to do so

Slow down to a reasonable speed if possible, or stop if necessary

If an emergency vehicle is coming towards your vehicle (from any direction), a driver is required to do the following:

Yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle

Immediately get as close to the edge of the right curb as possible in order to clear the roadway

Stop until the emergency vehicle has passed clear of your vehicle

What is considered an emergency vehicle in Kansas?

In Kansas, the move over law applies to the following emergency vehicles:

Police vehicles

Fire trucks

Ambulance and EMS vehicles

Tow trucks

Any vehicle with state-authorized visual and audible signals

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Penalties for violating Kansas’ move over laws

If you violate Kansas’ move over law, you could face the following penalties:

$75 plus any additional court costs if violating the move over law on a four-lane road or highway

$105 if violating the move over law on a two-lane roadway

Key Takeaway Always give emergency vehicles the right of way if passing or being passed by such vehicles on a Kansas roadway.

MORE:

Kansas insurance laws—all you need to know

Can violating move over laws raise your insurance?

If you violate Kansas’ move over law, you won’t only be facing a fine—you might see your insurance premium rise as a result.

With a less-than-great driving record, being convicted for a violation of the state’s move over law can seriously impact your insurance rate. You might also have trouble finding an insurer willing to cover you if your record is poor.

As a general rule of thumb, always drive cautiously and follow your state’s laws.

MORE: How to check for Kansas road closures

Why are there move over laws?

Move over laws have been enacted across the country with one purpose in mind—to protect emergency responders who risk their lives to aid those involved in vehicle accidents.

A concerted effort to protect first responders in this way hasn’t been around for very long. In fact, it was only after South Carolina paramedic Jamie D. Garcia started pushing for protections for first responders that move over laws gained traction.

After Garcia was injured by a passing vehicle while attending to a roadside accident, he decided to push hard for legal protection for first responders. By 2021, every state in the country had passed a law to protect emergency responders from passing vehicles.

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