MENIFEE, Calif. — Two drivers are facing potential legal consequences after allegedly bypassing police barricades at the scene of a traffic collision in Menifee, authorities said.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Scott Road and Briggs Road, where the Menifee Police Department and Riverside County Fire Department were responding to a two-vehicle crash.
According to reports, police motorcycles had established a blockade to prevent traffic from traveling south on Briggs Road while emergency crews worked to clear the scene. Despite the visible police presence and emergency closure, two vehicles were observed maneuvering around the police motorcycles to enter the closed area.
Video footage from the scene captures a Menifee Police officer immediately intercepting the drivers and demanding their driver’s licenses.
Legal Consequences for Disregarding Emergency Barriers
Law enforcement officials emphasize that bypassing emergency barricades is not only dangerous but a violation of California state law.
Under California Vehicle Code (VC) 21707, it is illegal for unauthorized vehicles to drive into a closed emergency area. The law prohibits operating a motor vehicle within a block where emergency situations, such as traffic collisions or fires, are being managed by responders.
Additionally, drivers who ignore barricades may face charges under VC 2800, which makes it a misdemeanor to willfully disobey a lawful order, signal, or direction of a peace officer.
Violators are subject to fines, points on their driving record, and potentially misdemeanor charges. In cases where disregarding a barricade endangers emergency personnel, penalties can be significantly more severe.
Public Safety Reminder
The Menifee Police Department reminds motorists to exercise patience and seek alternate routes when they encounter emergency lights or road closures.
“Traffic control devices and barricades are placed for the safety of the public and the first responders working the scene,” officials stated. “Disregarding these measures puts lives at risk.”
The investigation into the initial two-car collision at Scott and Briggs remains ongoing.
