Slow Down, Move Over: what Texas law asks when you see a tow truck on the shoulder
In Texas you must move over a lane or slow to 20 mph below the limit when you pass a stopped tow truck or emergency vehicle with its lights on.
Published
Short answer: when you see a tow truck, a police car, an ambulance, a fire truck or a TxDOT truck stopped on the side of the road with its lights on, Texas law asks you to move out of the lane next to it or, if you can't, to slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit. It is the law, and it keeps the people working on the shoulder alive.
What the law says
Section 545.157 of the Texas Transportation Code says that, when you approach one of these vehicles stopped with its lights on, you must do one of two things (unless a police officer tells you otherwise):
- Move over: on a highway with two or more lanes going your way, leave the lane closest to the stopped vehicle.
- Slow down: drive 20 mph below the posted speed limit. If the limit is under 25 mph, slow down to 5 mph.
If you can't change lanes safely, or the road has only one lane in your direction, slow down.
Who it protects
- Tow trucks
- Police, fire and EMS vehicles
- TxDOT vehicles
- Utility service vehicles
- Garbage and recycling trucks
- Toll road vehicles
- Since September 1, 2025, animal control officers and parking enforcement employees
What happens if you don't
- First offense: a fine of $500 to $1,250.
- A second offense within five years: $1,000 to $2,000.
- If someone gets hurt: it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. TxDOT warns that it can mean jail time and a fine of up to $4,000.
- Doing it again when someone gets hurt: a state jail felony.
- After a second conviction, the court can suspend your driver's license for up to six months.
Why it matters to us
Our work happens on the shoulder, a few feet from traffic. When you move over or slow down, you give the driver who is helping someone else the room to work safely. Thank you.
If you are the one stopped on the side of the road
Turn on your hazard lights and call us: (214) 735-7744, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tell us where you are and what happened to the vehicle, and we will tell you how soon we can be there.
Sources: Texas Transportation Code § 545.157 · TxDOT: Move Over or Slow Down