169.18 Subd. 11.Passing parked emergency vehicle; citation; probable cause.

(a) When approaching and before passing an authorized emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated that is parked or otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having two lanes in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle to the lane farthest away from the emergency vehicle, if it is possible to do so.

(b) When approaching and before passing an authorized emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated that is parked or otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having more than two lanes in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle so as to leave a full lane vacant between the driver and any lane in which the emergency vehicle is completely or partially parked or otherwise stopped, if it is possible to do so.

(c) A peace officer may issue a citation to the driver of a motor vehicle if the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has operated the vehicle in violation of this subdivision within the four-hour period following the termination of the incident or a receipt of a report under paragraph (d). The citation may be issued even though the violation was not committed in the presence of the peace officer.

(d) Although probable cause may be otherwise satisfied by other evidentiary elements or factors, probable cause is sufficient for purposes of this subdivision when the person cited is operating the vehicle described by a member of the crew of an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an incident in a timely report of the violation of this subdivision, which includes a description of the vehicle used to commit the offense and the vehicle's license plate number. For the purposes of issuance of a citation under paragraph (c), "timely" means that the report must be made within a four-hour period following the termination of the incident.

(e) For purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) only, the terms "authorized emergency vehicle" and "emergency vehicle" include a towing vehicle defined in section 168B.011, subdivision 12a, that has activated flashing lights authorized under section 169.64, subdivision 3, in addition to the vehicles described in the definition for "authorized emergency vehicle" in section 169.011, subdivision 3.

Subd. 12.Passing certain parked vehicles.

(a) When approaching and before passing a freeway service patrol, road maintenance, or construction vehicle with its warning lights activated that is parked or otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having two lanes in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle to the lane farthest away from the vehicle, if it is possible to do so.

(b) When approaching and before passing a freeway service patrol, road maintenance, or construction vehicle with its warning lights activated that is parked or otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having more than two lanes in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle so as to leave a full lane vacant between the driver and any lane in which the vehicle is completely or partially parked or otherwise stopped, if it is possible to do so.