What Texas Law Says About Stopping Under Overpasses

(Mix 93-1) In Texas, can you stop or park underneath an overpass during a severe storm?

It's a very valid question because it is spring in Texas after all, and that means the chance of severe storms. They usually arrive in late afternoon and end up pummeling the Lone Star State, and so the National Weather Service will end up issuing warnings to Texans that they could be affected by the storm.

So far this spring, East Texas has experienced many days of heavy rainfall, resulting in some flash flooding. The Piney Woods has also been under several tornado warnings and has seen a few touch down.

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A similar situation has been playing out in West Texas, along with Central and North Texas, as they have seen some rather large hail fall from the sky. Some areas even experienced record-setting hail.

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Being caught in a hailstorm is no fun. It is quite dangerous, depending on the size of the hail that is falling.

A few years back, I was on Toll 49 and encountered a severe thunderstorm that was producing some good-sized hail, and the first thing I did was seek shelter under an overpass. But is this legal?

Texas Law on Overpass Parking During Storms

Legal answer - NO. It is not legal to seek refuge from a hailstorm underneath an overpass. The Texas Transportation Code has this to say,

Sec. 545.302. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES. (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle:

(7) on a bridge or other elevated structure on a highway or in a highway tunnel;

So when I was seeking shelter during that storm under an overpass along Toll 49, along with the other eight vehicles, we were all essentially breaking the law.

Dangers of Stopping Under an Overpass

There are a few reasons why it is dangerous to stop underneath an overpass:

• You could block traffic
• You could block emergency vehicles from getting to a destination with an emergency
• You could obstruct the view of other drivers
• You could be hit by flying debris from the storm

You could be cited for stopping or parking in a prohibited place and face a fine.

Safer Places to Take Shelter in a Storm

To avoid this situation, look for shelter under a gas station canopy, your garage, a bank's drive-thru, a parking garage, or under the Chick-fil-A drive-thru ordering canopy.