(1) As used in this section, “roadside assistance vehicle” means a vehicle with warning lights that responds to requests for repair assistance from motorists with disabled vehicles.
(2) A person operating a motor vehicle commits the offense of failure to maintain a safe distance from an emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance if the person approaches an emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance that is stopped and is displaying required warning lights and the person:
(a) On a highway having two or more lanes for traffic in a single direction, fails to:
(A) Make a lane change to a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance; or
(B) Reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a speed that is at least five miles per hour under the speed limit established in ORS 811.111 or a designated speed posted under ORS 810.180, if making a lane change is unsafe.
(b) On a two directional, two-lane highway, fails to reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a speed that is at least five miles per hour under the speed limit established in ORS 811.111 or a designated speed posted under ORS 810.180.
(3) The offense described in this section, failure to maintain a safe distance from an emergency vehicle, roadside assistance vehicle, tow vehicle or ambulance, is a Class B traffic violation. [2003 c.42 §2; 2009 c.198 §1; 2010 c.30 §17]