Washington Move-Over Law

What Washington requires

Move over a lane for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and road crews running lights. If you can't move over, slow to at least 10 mph under the limit. A ticket is a flat $214 that can't be knocked down (RCW 46.61.212). Endanger a worker and it turns into a gross misdemeanor with a 60-day license suspension.

Who you move over for, and the fallback

• Move over for: Stationary emergency vehicles using lights or siren, tow trucks, roadside assistance vehicles with 360-degree warning lights, police vehicles, and highway construction, maintenance, solid waste, or utility vehicles running flashing or warning lights. A plain disabled car with hazards on is not covered.
• If you can't move over: Move over one lane away from the zone if you can do it safely. If you can't, slow to at least 10 mph under the posted limit (and no faster than 50 mph where the limit is over 60). The zone is the lanes 200 feet before and after the stopped vehicle.
• Covers responders, tow, roadside assistance, and highway/utility vehicles only; the statute does not reach an ordinary disabled vehicle with its flashers on. Fine confirmed at $214 by the Seattle Times and WSP enforcement releases.

What a violation costs

Flat $214 for a first offense, and it can't be waived, reduced, or suspended (base infraction penalty doubled under RCW 46.61.212). Drive through in a way that endangers a worker and it's reckless endangerment of emergency or work zone workers, a gross misdemeanor with a mandatory 60-day license suspension.

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