MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island Police are reminding motorists of the requirement to slow to a prudent speed, or if safe, make a lane change into the adjacent lane of travel when approaching an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights flashing, to include officer’s vehicles while they are on traffic stops.

An “emergency vehicle” is defined in the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes as; a police or fire department vehicle, ocean safety vehicle, emergency medical services vehicle, freeway service patrol vehicle, sheriff division vehicle, Hawaiʻi emergency management agency vehicle, county emergency management vehicle, civil defense vehicle, department of transportation harbors safety division vehicle, department of land and natural resources division of conservation and resources enforcement vehicle, or a tow truck.

A mandatory court appearance is required for violations of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, section 291C-27 – Emergency vehicle stopped for emergencies; duty of approaching vehicle, aka “Move Over Law.”