No, You Can’t Legally Park Under A Wyoming Overpass During A Hailstorm

No matter how tempting it is to park your car under an overpass during a hailstorm, it is illegal in Wyoming. Not only does it impede traffic, but it could cause major pileups. For emergency vehicles, not being able to get through could mean a matter of life or death. “It is illegal to park under a bridge or overpass in Wyoming,” said Aaron Brown, spokesman for the Wyoming Highway Patrol. “It’s allowed in an emergency situation like a mechanical breakdown, but hailstorms aren’t emergencies.”

Texas storm chaser Chad Casey was infuriated last weekend when drivers in Dublin, Texas, blocked every lane of highway in both directions under two overpasses to shelter their vehicles from hail. Traffic was at a standstill despite honks and growing anger. Most Wyomingites would not cower like that, but even the faint of heart cannot legally find shelter under a bridge or overpass—even on the shoulders of highways.

When traveling on a Wyoming highway during severe weather, it is usually a good idea to pull over for safety. WYDOT and WHP might even encourage it under extreme circumstances. However, that does not apply to bridges and overpasses. “We want people to pull over into the safest spot they can, ideally a turnout or a spot with a wide shoulder,” Brown said. “It might be common for people to park under an overpass or a bridge, but it’s technically illegal and extremely dangerous.”

The specific Wyoming statute prohibiting this is Title 31, Chapter 5, Article 5, which includes “upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel.” Brown said the reasons are simple: not every bridge has a big shoulder for parking, and stopping in such a narrow space is inherently dangerous. There are exceptions for mechanical emergencies, but even then, it is better to stop outside than inside. “Unless you are experiencing a legitimate mechanical emergency, you should probably avoid parking under overpasses,” Brown said.

The laws are in place because bridges and overpasses are usually on controlled-access highways, such as interstates, which have specific entry and exit points designed for high-speed traffic flow. These areas typically do not have shoulders wide enough for a vehicle to pull over completely out of traffic. “Pulling over onto a shoulder is fine,” Brown said. “In most cases, that’s not going to be considered illegal, but it’s best to pull over at a rest stop or an exit.”

Brown said stopping or parking on a highway is a misdemeanor traffic violation with a $200 fine. “It’s also worth noting that, once in a while, doing something unsafe during bad weather can also incur things like impeding traffic or reckless driving.” If blocking the roadway causes a cascade of crashes, a WHP investigation could lead to more severe citations or criminal prosecution if people are hurt or killed. “Not everyone wants to stop, and if you block the roadway under the bridge, they might not,” Brown said. “A mechanical breakdown is a real emergency. A hailstorm isn’t.”