New, Expanded Law Is Now In Effect in Minnesota

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It's a new law that is now in effect here in Minnesota, and it's one with which you're likely already familiar.

If you've been living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for any length of time, you've probably seen the signs along highways and interstates that instruct you to move over for emergency vehicles along the shoulder.

Technically, that law in Minnesota is called the Ted Foss Move Over Law, and it states:

​When traveling on a road with two or more lanes, drivers must keep over one full lane away from stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated — ambulance, fire, law enforcement, maintenance and construction vehicles.

But earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill that affected that familiar law and made one new change: As of July 1st, 2023, it's now the law in Minnesota that you must move over for ANY vehicle on the side of the road with its hazard lights activated.

Here's more from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety:

If drivers see any vehicle with flashing lights parked on the side of a road with two or more lanes going the same direction, they need to move over one full lane to give them space. In situations where it's not safe to move over (like heavy traffic), drivers must slow down.

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The original Ted Foss Move Over Law has been in effect in Minnesota for over 20 years now and got its name from a tragedy: Minnesota State Patrol Corporal Ted Foss was conducting a traffic stop on August 31, 2000, on the shoulder of Interstate 90 when he was hit and killed by a passing vehicle.

And while it's common courtesy to move over when possible for any stalled vehicle on the side of the road, if you're caught violating Minnesota's new expanded Move Over law, you could be issued a $100 fine.

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