A little-known law passed by the 2025 Legislature has landed a State Supreme Court Justice in the Broadwater County Justice Court. The new law–which is probably news to most of us, requires motorists to slow to one-half the posted speed limit when passing an emergency vehicle on the roadside.
Supreme Court Justice Laurie McKinnon (pictured) apparently didn’t know the new law existed until she was pulled-over by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper. In the court of Justice of the Peace Kirk Flynn, she plead guilty, paid a $285 fine and was given a 3-month deferred sentence. She was also ordered to take an online traffic safety course.
Known only as the “Yield–slow down–move over act, one is required to slow to half the posted speed limit on most roads, slow down 20-mph on Interstates and slow down 30-mph on State Highways.
So now you know.
