In an effort to promote awareness of state traffic laws, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office will be posting excerpts of the 2018-2019 edition of The Maryland Vehicle Law Annotated on Tuesdays.
Adhering to the law will make roadways in St. Mary’s County and in Maryland safer for drivers, passengers, bicyclists, horse-and-buggy operators and pedestrians.
#TrafficTipTuesdays
Yielding for Emergency Vehicles
Sec. 21-405. Operation of vehicles on approach of emergency vehicles.
(a) In general – On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals … or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall yield the right-of-way.
(b) On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals … or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall drive immediately to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the edge or curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection.
(c) Stopping until emergency vehicle passes. The driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall stop and stay in this position until the emergency vehicle has passed.
(d) Passing emergency vehicle or police vehicle. A driver, when proceeding in the same direction as an emergency or police vehicle, may not pass an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals … unless: 1) The emergency vehicle has stopped, or 2) Otherwise directed by a police officer.
The fines for failure of a driver to yield the right-of-way to emergency or police vehicles using signals are $110 and one point assessed on a driver’s license or $150 and three points on a license if contributing to an accident. If the violation contributes to an accident that results in death, the fine is $750 and three points on a license.
The fine for passing a moving emergency or police vehicle using signals is $110 and two points on a license or $150 and three points if contributing to an accident or $750 and three points on a license if contributing to an accident that results in death.
