SLS 20RS-487 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 337
BY SENATOR WARD
MOTOR VEHICLES. Relative to passing a parked emergency vehicle. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact the introductory paragraph of R.S. 32:125(B) and 327(B), relative to
3 passing a parked emergency vehicle; to provide for exceptions; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. The introductory paragraph of R.S. 32:125(B) and 327(B) are hereby
7 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §125. Procedure on approach of an authorized emergency vehicle; passing a parked
9 emergency vehicle
10 * * *
11 B. When any vehicle making use of any visual signals as authorized by law,
12 including the display of alternately flashing amber green, amber, or yellow warning
13 lights, is parked on or near the highway, the driver of every other vehicle shall:
14 * * *
15 §327. Special restrictions on lamps
16 * * *
17 B. No person shall drive or move any vehicular equipment upon any
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 337
SLS 20RS-487 ORIGINAL
1 highway of this state with any lamp or device thereon displaying a red or green light
2 visible from directly in front of the center thereof. This Section shall not apply to
3 any department vehicle displaying green lights. This section Section shall not
4 apply to any vehicle upon which a red or green light visible from the front is
5 expressly authorized or required by this Chapter or by regulation of the department.
6 * * *
7 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
8 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
9 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
10 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
11 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Xavier I. Alexander.
DIGEST
SB 337 Original 2020 Regular Session Ward
Present law provides that when a vehicle is parked on or near the highway flashing amber
or yellow warning lights, other drivers shall yield the right of way by making a lane change
or slow to a reasonably safe speed if a lane change is not possible.
Proposed law retains present law and extends to vehicles flashing green lights.
Present law provides that no person shall drive a vehicle on the highway with a lamp or
device on the vehicle displaying a red or green light visible from directly in front of the
center of the vehicle.
Proposed law retains present law but excludes department vehicles displaying green lights
from the restrictions in present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 32:125(B)(intro para) and 327(B))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.