Sec. 545.156. VEHICLE APPROACHED BY AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. (a) This section applies only to:
(1) an authorized emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702;
(2) a medical examiner vehicle, as defined by Section 547.751, lawfully using a visual signal in accordance with that section;
(3) a vehicle operated by a justice of the peace for a purpose described by Section 547.752 and lawfully using a visual signal in accordance with that section; and
(4) a police vehicle lawfully using only an audible or visual signal.
(a-1) On the immediate approach of a vehicle described by Subsection (a), an operator, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:
(1) yield the right-of-way;
(2) immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection; and
(3) stop and remain standing until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
(b) This section does not exempt the operator of a vehicle described by Subsection (a) from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 860 (H.B. 2837), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 727 (H.B. 2616), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
22
cases (
6 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case:
Mahaffey v. State, 316 S.W.3d 633 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
Mahaffey v. State, 316 S.W.3d 633 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
· cites it 2× “[36] TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 545.104(b) ("An operator intending to turn a vehicle right or left shall signal continuously for not less than the last 100 feet of movement of the vehicle before the turn.”
City of Pasadena v. Kuhn, 260 S.W.3d 93 (Tex. App. 2008).
· cites it 2× “3 See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.156 (Vernon 1999).”
City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426 (Tex. 1998).
· cites it 2× “§ 75(b) (current version at TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 545.156(b)). Because article 6701d controls Clark's action as an emergency vehicle operator in an emergency situation, we look to see if Clark complied with that article.”
Kolster v. City of El Paso, 972 S.W.2d 58 (Tex. 1998).
· cites it 2× “from the action of an employee while responding to an emergency call or reacting to an emergency situation if the action is in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable to emergency action, or in the absence of such a law or ordinance, if the action is not taken with…”
United States v. Coronado, 480 F. Supp. 2d 923 (W.D. Tex. 2007).
“See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.156 (a) (1999) (addressing drivers’ responsibilities when authorized emergency or law-enforcement vehicles approach).”
United States v. Ross, 400 F. Supp. 2d 939 (W.D. Tex. 2005).
“Considering the legal requirement that vehicles pull to the shoulder of the roadway when an emergency vehicle with emergency lights on approaches, it would have been a violation of law for the Jeep to not pull briefly to the shoulder.”
State v. Saenz, 967 S.W.2d 910 (Tex. App. 1998).
“055(2) of the civil practice and remedies code, it fails to instruct the jury on the laws that apply in an emergency situation. Specifically, the jury would not have been informed that an officer in pursuit must “exercise due regard for the safety of all persons.”
Bay City, Texas v. Wade McFarland (Tex. App. 2015).
· cites it 4× “4(i)(2)(B) 41 viii STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT Appellants request oral argument of this appeal.”
Soward (S.D. Tex. 2026).
· cites it 2× “See Tex. Trans. Code § 545.156. Soward offers no rebuttal.”
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.156(3) — 1 case
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.156(a) — 3 cases
Mahaffey v. State, 316 S.W.3d 633 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010).
“[36] TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 545.104(b) ("An operator intending to turn a vehicle right or left shall signal continuously for not less than the last 100 feet of movement of the vehicle before the turn.”
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.156(a)(1) — 1 case
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.156(b) — 3 cases
City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426 (Tex. 1998).
“§ 75(b) (current version at TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 545.156(b)). Because article 6701d controls Clark's action as an emergency vehicle operator in an emergency situation, we look to see if Clark complied with that article.”
Kolster v. City of El Paso, 972 S.W.2d 58 (Tex. 1998).
“from the action of an employee while responding to an emergency call or reacting to an emergency situation if the action is in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable to emergency action, or in the absence of such a law or ordinance, if the action is not taken with…”
State v. Saenz, 967 S.W.2d 910 (Tex. App. 1998).
“055(2) of the civil practice and remedies code, it fails to instruct the jury on the laws that apply in an emergency situation. Specifically, the jury would not have been informed that an officer in pursuit must “exercise due regard for the safety of all persons.”
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