South Dakota Move-Over Law

What South Dakota requires

South Dakota rewrote its law on July 1, 2025. Now you move over for any vehicle stopped with amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, including a broken-down car. On the interstate, get into the far lane at least 300 feet out. On a two-lane road, drop at least 20 mph under the limit. It's a Class 2 misdemeanor, minimum $270 and up to 30 days in jail, and it climbs to a Class 1 misdemeanor if you cause a wreck (SDCL 32-31-6.1).

Who you move over for, and the fallback

• Move over for: Any vehicle stopped or on the shoulder displaying amber, yellow, or blue warning lights. Law enforcement, emergency vehicles, road crews, tow and service trucks, and disabled motorists all count. (Stopping for red emergency lights is a separate duty.)
• If you can't move over: On the interstate or a highway with two or more lanes your way, merge into the lane farthest from the vehicle at least 300 feet before you reach it. On a two-lane road, slow to at least 20 mph under the posted limit (5 mph if the limit is 20 or under), starting 300 feet out.
• Rewritten effective July 1, 2025. It went from responders-only to any vehicle showing amber/yellow/blue warning lights; SDDOT and the Highway Patrol both say it now protects disabled motorists, so older 'responders only' summaries are outdated. Coverage is keyed to warning-light color.

What a violation costs

Class 2 misdemeanor: minimum $270 fine and up to 30 days in jail. If your violation causes a crash it climbs to a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to $2,000 and up to 1 year in jail).

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