Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 1/23/17: The Stupid Motorist Law

Arizona has a law popularly referred to as the “Stupid Motorist Law“, which renders motorists liable for the cost of their rescue. A response to the flash floods common in the Southwestern U.S., the law states that if a motorist ignores barricades blocking a flooded roadway and later need to be rescued by public emergency services, the motorist can be held responsible for the costs of rescue.  Motorists can also find themselves criminally liable under other statutory provisions for offences such as reckless driving and endangerment.

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