Copyright © 2010 by Polson Police · All Rights reserved · E-Mail: webmaster@polsonpolice.com
PATROL DIVISION
For additional questions the Montana Driver License Manual can be found HERE, and the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) Title 61. MOTOR VEHICLE HERE.
When am I required to use headlights?
Some of the newer vehicles have headlights that stay on all the time now. For those of us who don't have that feature it is important to remember headlights are not just for allowing us to see, but to be seen as well. The Montana Code Annotated says every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and at any other time when due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead, shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles. 61-9-201. When lighted lamps are required.
How far behind the vehicle in front of me should I be when driving?
The Montana Driver License Manual gives this guide: Rear-end crashes are very common. They are caused from drivers following too closely to be able to stop before hitting the vehicle ahead when it suddenly stops. There is an easy way to tell if you are following too closely. It is called the "Three-Second Rule," and it works at any speed.
1. Watch for when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole, or any other stationary object. Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot.
2. Count (one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand).
3. You are following too closely if you pass the mark before you finish counting.
4. If so, drop back and then count again at another spot to check the new following distance. Repeat until you are following no closer than three seconds.
The Montana Code Annotated states that the driver of a motor vehicle may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the roadway. 61-8-329. Following too closely.
When do I need to use a child safety seat?
The Montana Code Annotated states: If a child under 6 years of age and weighing less than 60 pounds is a passenger in a motor vehicle, that motor vehicle must be equipped with one child safety restraint for each child in the vehicle and each child must be properly restrained. 61-9-420. Child safety restraint systems.
If I am involved in an auto accident, when must I report it to the police?
The Montana Code Annotated states 61-7-108. Immediate notice of accidents. The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent of $500 or more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the nearest office of the highway patrol. 61-7-109. Written reports of accidents -- additional information -- form of report. (1) The operator of a motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident within this state in which a person is killed or injured or in which damage to the property of a person in excess of $1,000 is sustained shall, within 10 days after the accident, report the matter in writing to the department unless the accident was investigated and reported by a law enforcement officer.
What do I do upon the approach of an Emergency Vehicle?
When you are driving on the roadways and are approached by any Emergency Vehicle with lighting and siren activated the law requires motorists driving in both directions to immediately pull to the right side of the road and stop. Emergency Vehicles include Police Cars, Ambulances, Paramedics and Fire Department Vehicles.
Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle that is displaying visible signals of flashing or rotating amber, blue, red, or green lights on a public highway with a posted speed limit of 50 miles per hour or greater, when driving in a lane that is directly next to the emergency vehicle or police vehicle, the operator of the approaching vehicle shall reduce the vehicle's speed by at least 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. 61-8-346. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles or police vehicles -- approaching stationary emergency vehicles or police vehicles
Is my vehicle too loud?
61-9-403. Mufflers -- prevention of noise. (1) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.
(2) The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.
How dark can I tint my windows?
61-9-405. Windshields required, exception -- unobstructed and equipped with wipers -- window tinting and sunscreening -- restrictions -- exemptions. A motor vehicle, except a motorcycle, quadricycle, motor-driven cycle, or farm tractor, must be equipped with a front windshield meeting the requirements of 61-9-408, unless the driver wears safety glasses, goggles, or face shields at all times during the operation of the motor vehicle.
A person may not operate a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in this state upon a highway if:
(a) the windshield has sunscreening material that is not clear and transparent below the AS-1 line or if it has a sunscreening material that is red, yellow, or amber in color above the AS-1 line;
(b) the front side windows have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 24%;
(c) the rear window or side windows behind the front seat have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 14%, except for the rear window or side windows behind the front seat on a multipurpose vehicle, van, or bus;
What do I do at an intersection with no traffic sign?
As stated in the Montana Driver License Manual the following right-of-way rules apply at intersections:
1.- Drivers shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk, but no pedestrian shall leave a curb and walk into the path of a vehicle. Drivers shall exercise care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for pedestrians to walk on the roadway. Pedestrians must obey all traffic rules, signals and signs that pertain to them
2.- Drivers crossing a sidewalk, entering or exiting a driveway, alley or parking lot, must yield to pedestrians. It is illegal to drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it.
3.- Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming cars going straight ahead.
4.- Drivers entering a traffic circle or rotary must yield to drivers already in the circle.
5.- At an intersection where there is no stop sign or traffic signal, driver must yield to vehicles coming from the right.
When am I required to use headlights?
Some of the newer vehicles have headlights that stay on all the time now. For those of us who don't have that feature it is important to remember headlights are not just for allowing us to see, but to be seen as well. The Montana Code Annotated says every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and at any other time when due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead, shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles. 61-9-201. When lighted lamps are required.
How far behind the vehicle in front of me should I be when driving?
The Montana Driver License Manual gives this guide: Rear-end crashes are very common. They are caused from drivers following too closely to be able to stop before hitting the vehicle ahead when it suddenly stops. There is an easy way to tell if you are following too closely. It is called the "Three-Second Rule," and it works at any speed.
1. Watch for when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole, or any other stationary object. Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot.
2. Count (one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand).
3. You are following too closely if you pass the mark before you finish counting.
4. If so, drop back and then count again at another spot to check the new following distance. Repeat until you are following no closer than three seconds.
The Montana Code Annotated states that the driver of a motor vehicle may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the roadway. 61-8-329. Following too closely.
When do I need to use a child safety seat?
The Montana Code Annotated states: If a child under 6 years of age and weighing less than 60 pounds is a passenger in a motor vehicle, that motor vehicle must be equipped with one child safety restraint for each child in the vehicle and each child must be properly restrained. 61-9-420. Child safety restraint systems.
If I am involved in an auto accident, when must I report it to the police?
The Montana Code Annotated states 61-7-108. Immediate notice of accidents. The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent of $500 or more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the nearest office of the highway patrol. 61-7-109. Written reports of accidents -- additional information -- form of report. (1) The operator of a motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident within this state in which a person is killed or injured or in which damage to the property of a person in excess of $1,000 is sustained shall, within 10 days after the accident, report the matter in writing to the department unless the accident was investigated and reported by a law enforcement officer.
What do I do upon the approach of an Emergency Vehicle?
When you are driving on the roadways and are approached by any Emergency Vehicle with lighting and siren activated the law requires motorists driving in both directions to immediately pull to the right side of the road and stop. Emergency Vehicles include Police Cars, Ambulances, Paramedics and Fire Department Vehicles.
Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle that is displaying visible signals of flashing or rotating amber, blue, red, or green lights on a public highway with a posted speed limit of 50 miles per hour or greater, when driving in a lane that is directly next to the emergency vehicle or police vehicle, the operator of the approaching vehicle shall reduce the vehicle's speed by at least 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. 61-8-346. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles or police vehicles -- approaching stationary emergency vehicles or police vehicles
Is my vehicle too loud?
61-9-403. Mufflers -- prevention of noise. (1) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.
(2) The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.
How dark can I tint my windows?
61-9-405. Windshields required, exception -- unobstructed and equipped with wipers -- window tinting and sunscreening -- restrictions -- exemptions. A motor vehicle, except a motorcycle, quadricycle, motor-driven cycle, or farm tractor, must be equipped with a front windshield meeting the requirements of 61-9-408, unless the driver wears safety glasses, goggles, or face shields at all times during the operation of the motor vehicle.
A person may not operate a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in this state upon a highway if:
(a) the windshield has sunscreening material that is not clear and transparent below the AS-1 line or if it has a sunscreening material that is red, yellow, or amber in color above the AS-1 line;
(b) the front side windows have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 24%;
(c) the rear window or side windows behind the front seat have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 14%, except for the rear window or side windows behind the front seat on a multipurpose vehicle, van, or bus;
What do I do at an intersection with no traffic sign?
As stated in the Montana Driver License Manual the following right-of-way rules apply at intersections:
1.- Drivers shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk, but no pedestrian shall leave a curb and walk into the path of a vehicle. Drivers shall exercise care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for pedestrians to walk on the roadway. Pedestrians must obey all traffic rules, signals and signs that pertain to them
2.- Drivers crossing a sidewalk, entering or exiting a driveway, alley or parking lot, must yield to pedestrians. It is illegal to drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it.
3.- Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming cars going straight ahead.
4.- Drivers entering a traffic circle or rotary must yield to drivers already in the circle.
5.- At an intersection where there is no stop sign or traffic signal, driver must yield to vehicles coming from the right.
Copyright © 2010 by Polson Police · All Rights reserved · E-Mail: webmaster@polsonpolice.com