Understanding the Legal Responsibilities of Road Crews in Oklahoma
Hello, I’m Oklahoma City attorney Dillan Savage with Wirth Law Office, and I practice primarily in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area.
Previously, I discussed the responsibilities of road crews and maintenance workers to fight roadside fires in Oklahoma. Today, we’re going to talk about what happens if they fail to do so without sufficient cause—specifically, the criminal penalties that may apply.
This is covered under Title 2, Section 16-24, titled Refusal of Road Crews.
Under this statute, if any road foreman, construction or maintenance crew member, superintendent, or employee of a road contractor or subcontractor willfully refuses or neglects to prevent or suppress roadside fires—without sufficient cause—they may be charged with a misdemeanor.
Potential Criminal Penalties
Potential penalties for such a misdemeanor include imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $500, or both.
-
- Imprisonment for up to one year
-
- A fine of up to $500
-
- Or both
The law doesn’t require you to risk life and limb. If you have a valid reason for not intervening—such as safety concerns—that will be taken into account. However, simply ignoring your legal duty without sufficient cause could land you with criminal charges.
Key Statutory Language
Let me read the statute for full clarity:
“Any road foreman or member of a construction or maintenance crew or any foreman, superintendent, or employee of any road contractor or subcontractor who shall without sufficient cause willfully refuse or neglect to prevent and suppress fires as provided in the Oklahoma Forestry Code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.”
So again, if you’re part of a road construction or maintenance crew in Oklahoma, you do have a legal duty to act when fires break out—as long as doing so is safe.
If you found this video helpful or believe it could help someone else, please visit TheOklahomaCityAttorney.com.
Get a Low-Cost Consultation
My name is Dillan Savage, and I’m the Oklahoma City misdemeanor defense attorney with Wirth Law Office. If you have questions about your legal responsibilities or potential penalties, feel free to call me at 405-888-5400 for a low-cost consultation. Thank you for watching.
