The Truth About Empty Parking Spaces in Montana

Navigating parking lots isn't always the easiest thing to do. You sometimes have to have your head on a swivel to make sure you avoid an accident. Especially in some Missoula parking lots. A while ago I was driving with a friend of mine who moved here from California, don't worry he already moved away, and I drove out of a parking lot by going through the empty space in front of me. He got very agitated and told me I was breaking the law.

Read More: The Missoula Parking Lot Survival Guide

I had no idea what he was talking about, since I do it all the time. He told me that where he came from it is against the law to drive through an empty parking space in California. He told me a story of how he got into an accident while doing just that and he got a ticket and was told he was at fault for doing that maneuver. I didn't believe him.

Montana's Laws Don't Include This One

You may be happy to know that there is no official Montana law on the books, that I could find, that says you can't pull through an empty parking space in a parking lot to either park or leave the parking lot. Here are some of Montana's parking laws.

via GIPHY

For those that do drive through empty spaces in parking lots, keep your eyes open for vehicles heading into the parking spot and make sure that the spot doesn't have a parking curb in it. Both of those things will do damage to your vehicle.