California's Assembly Bill 390 took effect January 1, 2026, requiring drivers to slow down or move over for any vehicle displaying hazard lights or emergency indicators, not just emergency vehicles, according to AAA. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 and points on the driver's record. The expansion follows a 77 percent increase in California roadside fatalities between 2014 and 2023. An AAA Foundation study found that only 58 percent of drivers captured on video complied with existing slow-down requirements near tow trucks. California joins 28 other states and the District of Columbia that have broadened move-over protections beyond emergency vehicles.
Operator takeaway
If your state has not yet expanded its move-over law beyond emergency vehicles, California's AB 390 is the model legislation to bring to your towing association and state legislators. The 58 percent compliance rate near tow trucks is the number that makes the case.