The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a driver on State Route 347 was arrested after using the shoulder to pass traffic in a construction zone on July 24.
According to DPS, a state trooper assigned to a construction detail saw a pickup truck moving past backed-up traffic on the shoulder. The driver allegedly told authorities they were trying to get away from other vehicles.
DPS said the incident led to a reckless driving arrest, a jail stay and the truck being impounded for two weeks.
The department also reminded motorists that shoulders are meant for emergencies, not for bypassing traffic, and warned that using them in a construction zone can put workers and other drivers at risk.
The warning came as another local agency issued a similar message last week, telling drivers that leaving designated roads to avoid congestion could result in citations, vehicle seizure and safety hazards, according to InMaricopa.
