If you fail to move over or reduce speed when approaching an emergency vehicle in Vermont, you could be subject to fines and points added to your license.

Written by Kevin Martinez

Reviewed by Jessica Barrett

Updated on Jan 13, 2023

Table of Contents

What are the move over laws in Vermont?
Penalties for violating Vermont's move over laws
Can violating move over laws raise your insurance?
Why are there move over laws?
How to find cheap insurance after a traffic conviction

Load full table of contents

In Vermont, drivers must pull over and come to a complete stop or reduce their speed to a reasonable amount when approaching an emergency vehicle. Failure to do so could result in fines and points added to your license.

One of the major leading causes of severe injury and death for emergency responders is being hit by oncoming traffic while at an accident site. Since the 2000s, states have passed move over laws to protect emergency responders from accidents.

Almost every state has a form of a move over law, and it's important to be aware of the rules where you live. Here, the

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What are the move over laws in Vermont?

When approaching both stationery and active emergency vehicles in Vermont, drivers must slow down and vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicles. Under the Vermont Statutes (

23 V.S.A. § 1050

), drivers must:

Pull over and come to a complete stop until the emergency vehicle has passed

If unsafe to pull over, reduce speed to a reasonable amount under the speed limit

If an enforcement officer is present, drivers must follow their instructions.

What is considered an emergency vehicle in Vermont?

Vermont law classifies an emergency vehicle as one that displays an active blinking blue, black, or white signal lamp or has a siren. Here are some examples of common emergency vehicles:

Ambulances

Patrol cars

Fire trucks

Tow trucks

Utility trucks

Other law enforcement vehicles

Penalties for violating Vermont's move over laws

If you fail to properly pull over or reduce your speed when approaching an emergency vehicle, you could be in violation of the law and face penalties. These can include:

A traffic

citation

with a fine of over $300

Five points added to your driving record

If your failure to follow the laws results in an accident resulting in severe injury or death, you could be held liable and face additional charges—both civil or criminal—depending on the severity.

MORE:

How do driver violation points affect your insurance rates?

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Can violating move over laws raise your insurance?

Anytime you commit any traffic violation, chances are it will end up on your driving record. If it's a one-time offense, you probably won't notice much of a change; however, that doesn't mean that you're out of the woods just yet.

Insurance companies use the information provided on your driving record and demographics to determine the right policy and rates. If you have significant violations, you could be deemed a high-risk driver—which can cause your insurance rates to rise.

clean driving record

, on the other hand, will ensure you get some of the most affordable rates available to you.

Why are there move over laws?

Move over laws force drivers to create safe zones for emergency vehicles when at the site of an accident. They help protect emergency responders from being injured or struck by moving vehicles.

Some of the first move over laws were enacted in the early 2000s after James D. Garcia, a South Carolina paramedic, was struck while responding to an accident. Since then, Garcia has fought for protections for emergency responders.

Today, nearly every state has a form of a move over law. But accidents still happen, and in 2021,

65 emergency responders

were hit by moving vehicles.

How to find cheap insurance after a traffic conviction

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