FAILURE TO YIELD TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles Can Lead to a Criminal Record

Passing Emergency Vehicles – VA Code § 46.2-861.1

In Virginia, you are required by law to yield to stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights by either moving over a lane or, if that’s not possible, significantly slowing down. This “Move Over” law is taken seriously, and violations can lead to severe penalties.

If you fail to comply, you may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor level in the Commonwealth. That means:

  • السجن لمدة تصل إلى 12 شهراً

  • غرامات تصل إلى 2,500 دولار

  • 6 DMV demerit points, which stay on your record for 11 years

  • Long-term increases in your car insurance premiums

  • Potential license suspension

  • A permanent criminal record if convicted

If an emergency responder is injured, the charge can escalate to a felony. These cases are often linked to reckless driving or DUI, especially when a simple stop escalates.

Even without injury, prosecutors take these charges seriously. But you may have strong defenses, poor visibility, unclear signage, or road conditions could all matter.

At Battlefield Law Group, we’ve spent over a decade defending clients across Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Culpeper, and surrounding counties. We review every detail of the stop and fight for the best outcome, whether that’s a dismissal, a reduction, or an alternative resolution.

Car surrounded by emergency vehicles driving on a highway and not yielding to get out of the way

مجالات الممارسة

يعرف محامو المحاكمة لدينا قانون فيرجينيا ويفهمون مدى صرامة المدعين العامين. نحن نتأكد من أن صوتك مسموع وحقوقك محمية ومستقبلك محمي. وبفضل استراتيجيات الدفاع القوية المصممة خصيصًا لقضيتك، فإن مهمتنا بسيطة: الكفاح من أجل تحقيق أفضل نتيجة ممكنة لك.

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