Bad Bozeman Drivers: Why Is This Such An Issue?

If you live in Bozeman, chances are you've noticed that some of the drivers in our beautiful city can be a little frustrating.

via GIPHY

How bad is it? Well, it's bad enough that a popular Facebook page is dedicated to pointing out the bad drivers in our area.  You will find pictures of license plates, videos of folks running red lights, etc. One of the factors is as the city continues to grow, that means more drivers, more traffic, and frankly, more idiots.

Many blame all of the transplants that have moved here in the last few years, however, according to a few locals, this isn't a new problem, it's just a bigger one.

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I don't know about you, but I've noticed an alarming trend happening around Bozeman. It seems that whenever there is an emergency vehicle (ambulance, police, fire) and they're driving through town with their lights on and sirens blaring, a considerable amount of folks keep going about their day and refuse to pull over.

Is it against the law to not pull over when an emergency vehicle is coming through?

According to a Montana law that went into effect on October 1st, 2023, Montana drivers must do the following:

"(1) yield the right-of-way to the law enforcement vehicle or authorized emergency vehicle, and (2)  unless already stationary and out of the way of the law enforcement vehicle or authorized emergency vehicle: (a) drive cautiously to a position that is parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway and is not in an intersection, and (b) remain stationary until the law enforcement vehicle or authorized emergency vehicle has passed."

I was talking to my buddy, who is a former Bozeman Police Officer, and asked him if there was a newer trend and he told me it wasn't.  He said it has been going on for years, so while out-of-staters are an easy target, it seems it's just not the transplants that are the problem.

What's the penalty for not pulling over for an emergency vehicle In Montana?

The law states the penalties include:

• A minimum fine of 500 dollars (up to 1000)
• Community service of 50 hours (up to 100)
• Both a fine and community service

I realize that people are in a hurry and we all believe that our time is "precious", however, use some common sense and pull over for crying out loud. If one of those emergency vehicles were going to help your loved ones, you certainly wouldn't want them to have to slow down because someone was in their way.

READ MORE: How much will a speeding ticket cost in Montana?