Towing and Roadside Help in Virginia

Code of Virginia

In Virginia, Your Hazard Lights Buy You Room

The state's move over law, Va. Code 46.2-861.1, comes in two parts. The first covers stopped vehicles with flashing blue, red or amber lights, and tow trucks are among the vehicles allowed amber lights. On a highway with at least four lanes, two each way, drivers coming up on one must change to a lane that isn't next to it when that's reasonable and safe. If they can't, they must pass with due caution at a safe speed. Breaking that part counts as reckless driving.

The second part puts the same duty on drivers passing a stopped car that has its hazard flashers on, caution signs set out or lit flares. That's why the first thing to do when your car quits is turn on your flashers.

If the car still moves, nobody's hurt and you can do it safely, Va. Code 46.2-888 says to get it out of the flow of traffic, onto the shoulder as soon as possible and off the shoulder without needless delay. If a stalled car becomes a traffic hazard and isn't removed promptly, an officer can have it moved at the owner's expense. That's where a tow comes in.