SB 38 South Dakota Senate · 2025 Regular Session

modify requirements for a vehicle approaching a vehicle that is stopped or occupying the shoulder of the highway with warning lights flashing.

This bill modifies traffic laws in South Dakota to clarify requirements for vehicles approaching those stopped on the shoulder with flashing warning lights. It directly affects drivers on highways by specifying how they should behave when encountering emergency or disabled vehicles in that position. The key provision updates existing rules to ensure approaching drivers maintain a safe distance and reduce speed when warning lights are active. This change aims to improve safety for both the stopped vehicle occupants and passing traffic by establishing clearer expectations for highway driving behavior.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Feb 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed Feb 11, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 3 edits · Jan 30, 2025
MINOR
This bill amends South Dakota law to clarify and expand requirements for drivers approaching vehicles stopped on highways with flashing warning lights. Previously, the law only addressed approaching stopped emergency vehicles with red lights. The new law now applies to any vehicle stopped or occupying the shoulder with amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, requiring drivers to merge or slow down appropriately. Violations remain a Class 2 misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $270, and accidents caused by violations involving these vehicles are now Class 1 misdemeanors.
Scope change
Expanded from only applying to stopped emergency vehicles with red lights to include any vehicle stopped or occupying the highway shoulder with amber, yellow, or blue warning lights
REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for drivers approaching vehicles with amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, requiring lane merging on multi-lane highways or speed reduction on two-lane highways at least 300 feet before reaching the stopped vehicle

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded accident penalties to include collisions with any vehicle using amber, yellow, or blue warning lights when stopped or occupying the highway shoulder, not just emergency vehicles with red lights

DEFINITION

Clarified that the warning light requirement applies to any vehicle using amber, yellow, or blue lights, regardless of whether it is an emergency vehicle

Floor votes · Senate Jan 21, 2025 · House Jan 29, 2025

How they voted

320
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 35
Jan 21, 2025
D Democratic3
2 Yea 1
66% Yea
R Republican32
30 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
8
Committee
2
Feb 11, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2025-02-11 S.J. 224
executive
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 176
lower
Jan 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 145
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 68, NAYS 0 H.J. 147
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Transportation Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0 H.J. 6
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Introduced
First read in House and referred to H.J. 52
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 32, NAYS 0 S.J. 64
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed,
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Transportation Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to S.J. 13
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.