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La. Rev. Stat. § 32:125 (2026)

Procedure on approach of an authorized emergency vehicle; passing a parked emergency vehicle

✓ current as of May 2026
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§125. Procedure on approach of an authorized emergency vehicle; passing a parked emergency vehicle

            A. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible or visual signals, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

            B. When any vehicle making use of any visual signals as authorized by law, including the display of alternately flashing green, amber, or yellow warning lights, is parked on or near the highway, the driver of every other vehicle shall:

            (1) When driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the parked vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions. If a lane change is not possible, the driver shall slow to a reasonably safe speed.

            (2) Maintain a safe speed for road conditions, if unable or unsafe to change lanes, or driving on a two-lane road or highway.

            C. This Section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

            D. Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars.

            Acts 1962, No. 310, §1. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 160, §1; Acts 2001, No. 583, §1; Acts 2008, No. 429, §1, eff. June 21, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 746, §1; Acts 2021, No. 78, §1, eff. June 4, 2021.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 60 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1968–2024 · leading case: Rabalais v. Nash, 952 So. 2d 653 (La. 2007).
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Rabalais v. Nash, 952 So. 2d 653 (La. 2007). · cites it 2× “Rabalais' actions violated the duty imposed on drivers by LSA-R.S. 32:125 [3] to make way for emergency vehicles.”
Pope v. Prunty, 852 So. 2d 1213 (La. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “R.S. 32:125. Based on the record, the trial court implicitly found that Prunty failed to carry his burden of proof, given the evidence reflective of Prunty's violations of subsections B and C.”
Jones v. Thomas, 660 So. 2d 86 (La. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “LSA-R.S. 32:125 governs the procedure to be followed by other motorists on the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle.”
Carpenter v. Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co., 333 So. 2d 296 (La. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 2× “R.S. 32:125 which states: "§ 125. Procedure on approach of an authorized emergency vehicle A.”
Anderson v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins., 890 So. 2d 677 (La. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 6× “R.S. 32:125(A) (emphasis ours), which reads as follows: Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible or visual signals, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully mak *680 ing use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other…”
Cassity v. Williams, 373 So. 2d 586 (La. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 2× “LSA-R.S. 32:125 provides in part: "A. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals, .”
Neloms v. Empire Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 859 So. 2d 225 (La. Ct. App. 2003). “R.S. 32:125 provides, in part: A. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible or visual signals, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the…”
Eubanks v. Brasseal, 310 So. 2d 550 (La. 1975). · cites it 2× “Plaintiff urges that R.S. 32:125(A) prescribes the appropriate procedure to be followed by a motorist upon the approach of an emergency vehicle.”
Slone v. Greber, 989 So. 2d 273 (La. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “R.S. 32:125 [1] that was the sole cause of the accident.”
Riggs v. State, 488 So. 2d 443 (La. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 3× “He held that she had a duty under LSA-R.S. 32:125 to pull to the right-hand side and yield the road to the police unit.”
Nelson v. State, Dept. of Pub. Saf., 581 So. 2d 344 (La. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “NELSON The degree of care required of the drivers of other vehicles, upon the approach of an emergency vehicle, is provided for by LSA-R.S. 32:125, which states: "§ 125. Procedure on approach of an authorized emergency vehicle "A.”
Natchitoches Motor v. Travelers Ins. Co., 372 So. 2d 811 (La. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 2× “The duty of a motorist to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles under LSA-R.S. 32:125 [1] only arises when the motorist observes or hears, or under the circumstances should have observed or heard, the audible and/or visual warnings of the emergency vehicle.”
Show all 60 citing cases →
La. Rev. Stat. § 32:125(A): 9 cases
Anderson v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins., 890 So. 2d 677 (La. Ct. App. 2004). “R.S. 32:125(A) (emphasis ours), which reads as follows: Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible or visual signals, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully mak *680 ing use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other…”
Eubanks v. Brasseal, 310 So. 2d 550 (La. 1975). “Plaintiff urges that R.S. 32:125(A) prescribes the appropriate procedure to be followed by a motorist upon the approach of an emergency vehicle.”
Griffin v. City of Monroe, 61 So. 3d 846 (La. Ct. App. 2011).
Este v. Roussel, 833 So. 2d 999 (La. Ct. App. 2002).
Ivy Dixon v. Louisiana State Police, State of Louisiana, Through the Dep't of Pub. Saf. & Corr., Colonel Kevin W. Reeves, in His Capacity as the Superintendent of Louisiana State Police, & Helen Elizabeth Delatte (La. Ct. App. 2022).
La. Rev. Stat. § 32:125(B): 2 cases
State v. Khalfani, 998 So. 2d 756 (La. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Collins, 998 So. 2d 765 (La. Ct. App. 2008).
La. Rev. Stat. § 32:125(B)(1): 1 case
Hunter v. City of Shreveport, 935 So. 2d 300 (La. Ct. App. 2006).
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