ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s a question I get more often than you might think: when tow truck drivers are out doing their job, do they get special exemptions from traffic laws?
Let’s clear this up right away. No, they do not.
Under Florida law, tow trucks are not considered emergency vehicles. That means they don’t get the same privileges as law enforcement, fire rescue or ambulances when it comes to responding to a call.
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Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But they’ve got flashing lights!”
They do. But those amber lights are warning lights, not emergency lights.
They’re there to alert other drivers that something is happening, usually when a tow truck is stopped on the side of the road or working a scene. They are not a signal that allows a driver to speed, run red lights, or move through traffic like they’re responding to an emergency.
In other words, those lights say, “Use caution,” not “Get out of my way.”
Even when they’re heading to help someone, tow truck drivers still have to follow the same traffic laws as everyone else on the road.
That said, there is an important reminder for drivers, too.
Under Florida’s Move Over Law, tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights are protected. Drivers are required to move over a lane or slow down to help keep those operators safe while they work in dangerous roadside conditions.
So while tow truck drivers don’t get exemptions from traffic laws, they do deserve your attention and your space — when you see those lights flashing.
They play a critical role in helping people during stressful situations.
Just remember, they’re helping in emergencies.
They’re just not the emergency