GOV/MIL New Move Over Law

O

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
A friend emailed me this. I'd never heard of it. It makes sense for the safety of LE and First Responders and I do it anyway. It would have been nice if a little more of an effort had been made to inform the rest of us. That is a hefty fine with bugets as tight as they are.

- OGM
-------


New Traffic Law 2010 - Ticket cost $754.00
If a patrol car is pulled over to the side of the road, you have to change to the next lane (away from the stopped vehicle) or slow down by 20 mph.

Maryland and D.C. has this law. In California , the "Move-over" law became operative on January 1, 2010. A friend's son got a ticket for this recently. A police car (turned out it was 2 police cars) was on the side of the road giving a ticket to someone else. He slowed down to pass but did not move into the other lane. The second police car immediately pulled him over and gave him a ticket. He had never heard of the law. It is a fairly new law that states if any emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, if you are able, you are to move into the far lane.

The cost of the ticket was $754, with 3 points on your license and a mandatory court appearance. Please let everyone you know that drives about this new law. It is true, see details at the following web sire:

http://www.moveoveramerica.com/
 
R

Rich30N90W

Contributing Member
Louisiana has that also, started sometime this year - the rule is "must move over if able, if not, must drop at least 20 mph below the speed limit". Meaning that when you come up on a scene, you either dash into the left lane and hope not to be run over, or melt your brakes to go say 45 in a 70 - and hope nobody smashes into you from behind :smkd:
 
rhughe13

rhughe13

Heart of Dixie
Probably the reason cops were getting sniped from roof tops in California during their traffic stops.

Wasn't that on tb a few months back?
 
L

Lone Wolf

Lives on TB
This has been a law from before I became a cop. Prior to '62'

Smash ups galore caused this a loooong time ago.

Perhaps in your state not so, but in every state I have lived it has been so.

I have seen the aftermath of colisions caused by drivers that would not and did not slow down and pull over while passing a stoped police car with ALL lights flashing. Cops and stopped drivers killed.

$ 754.00, is a bit much though.

lw
 
T

Technomancer

Inactive
We have those laws down here in TN since 03 and in MS since 07. They have signs posted on the highways that say something along the lines of "Move over for stopped emergency vehicle if possible".

Fortunately they are more lenient here than the other ones mentioned here. Ours both say about the same: move over if possible in consideration of traffic conditions and safety, if it not possible to move over then slow down to the speed limit/below and "proceed with due caution".

I always thought it was one of the "rules of the road" that you are supposed to move over or slow down anytime there's someone stopped on the side of the road, whether its a cop or someone changing a flat tire.
 
dberszerker

dberszerker

Veteran Member
A law like that exists in Texas, and the police use it in a chicken shit manner, just to give tickets. I say chicken shit, because I was driving in the early hours of the morning once, and nobody was on the highway. I didnt change lanes because it looked fishy to me that the patrol car was pulled over lights flashing without anyone around. I am a nurse by trade, and bound by law to stop, and render aid, so I drove by looking to see if the officer was down, maybey laying in front of his car, and that asshole pulled me over. He didnt want to hear my reasoning, and issued me the ticket, I assured him that no way in hell would I ever do that again. Took food off of my table to learn that lesson.:mad:
 
Sligo

Sligo

Membership Revoked
I think this has been a law here for a few years. I guess so we don't run LEO over while on traffic stops or something. I do it anyway. I'm used to moving over for the buggies and bicycles that I move over for anything on the side of the road these days, just to be safe. I would hate myself if I hit someone, so better safe than sorry. A friend of mine was cycling out on one of our rural roads and was hit from behind by a local touring bus company. She was in a coma for a few weeks and some other serious injuries. She has recovered, and they finally settled with her after a number of years, but like I said, better safe than sorry.
 
P

Perpetuity

Inactive
Not only for LEO's, but EMS and tow truck drivers benefit from the law as well.

There's nothing like the adrenaline surge feeling (more like an "oh sh*t moment) of being on the shoulder responding to an MVC or medical emergency and having two or three lanes of traffic zipping by feet away with the drivers rubber necking to see what happened. No need for coffee for an hour or so afterwards!;)
 
denfoote

denfoote

Inactive
If a patrol car is pulled over to the side of the road, you have to change to the next lane (away from the stopped vehicle) or slow down by 20 mph.
Click to expand...

That's been my personal policy since I got my DL.

It's called common sense.
 
NoPlugsNM

NoPlugsNM

Deceased
As has been said, that law has been around for a LONG time. I took drivers ed in the 60's and it was covered then in class, btw, that was in CA.

Anytime I see anyone pulled off the road, regardless of whether it's LE or EMS, I have always moved over to the left-most lane. Even on a two lane road, if no one is coming, I strattle the line and make sure there is some room between me and them. You never know when someone will open a door, or someone will step out toward the traffic lane. Many people have been killed because someone is too close when passing them and they do stupid stuff. I see it as a common courtesy, I tow a travel trailer quite a bit, they cause suction similar to a semi.

Of course, always remember there is a law in every state that says the left lane is basically for passing only and you are supposed to drive mainly in the right lane. You will get a ticket for staying/driving in the left lane too long.

Catch 22, eh?


NP
 
Jeff Allen

Jeff Allen

Producer
This is the law in Indiana.

Seems like common sense to me...duh.

It seems laws are needed when people are stupid....

I knew a guy in college who rear ended an LEO during a stop and cut the officers legs off of him, but he did survive.

Anytime you are on the side of a highway you are in grave danger at all times....

J
 
W

wanderer

Inactive
denfoote said:
That's been my personal policy since I got my DL.

It's called common sense.
Click to expand...

Forgive for being so blunt about this! It is STUPID to pass stationary vehicle on roadside with or without people moving/standing around said vehicle(s) with out changing lanes away from them. For all you know one of those people standing around that car is not feeling well and they suddenly faint and fall into your traffic lane. What can you do when you are approaching them at 55 to 75 mph which is 80 to 110 feet per second?

The "move over" has been well publicized in the various states that I have traveled the last few years. I find it difficult to have much sympathy for anyone charged with this offense. No. I am not law enforcement or first responder just another person on the road.
 
D

Double_A

TB Fanatic
NoPlugsNM said:
As has been said, that law has been around for a LONG time. I took drivers ed in the 60's and it was covered then in class, btw, that was in CA.

NP
Click to expand...


Can you give us more details about that being the way in Calif, back in the 60's?

Because the OP is correct with respect that this was a new law that went into effect Jan 2010 in Calif.

$754 may be stiff, but 3 points against your license is going to cost you more than that in insurance costs.
 
N

NC Susan

Deceased
Is the Law in North Carolina. Look for the interstate sign board announcement entering the state from any direction.
Enacted after a few State Troopers were killed on the highway by ignorant drivers.
 
P

Publius

TB Fanatic
LtPiper said:
Fairly new law here in WV.
Click to expand...

Thats new to me and I will not move over for their dam equipment while it's going in the opposite direction we have allot of very stupid people driving on our highways and will almost come to complete stop because a fire truck or some government controlled healthcare ambulance is going down the road.
 
O

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
Publius said:
Thats new to me and I will not move over for their dam equipment while it's going in the opposite direction we have allot of very stupid people driving on our highways and will almost come to complete stop because a fire truck or some government controlled healthcare ambulance is going down the road.
Click to expand...

No offence meant Publius but what if it was you or one of your relatives that ambulance was on its way to pick up after a bad accident? I see flashing lights and I pull out of the way. It might be someone I know on board and I want that bus to get to treatment ASAP!
 
N

Nuthatch

Membership Revoked
It may be that the fine is the new part in CA.

It is common sense. A local minister died helping at the scene of a winter accident because someone didn't move over and then hit him. Happens to good samaritans every year. You really need to stay IN your car if you are waiting for a tow truck....or walk to the other side of the guard rail AWAY from the road and the car.
 
P

Publius

TB Fanatic
Old Gray Mare said:
No offence meant Publius but what if it was you or one of your relatives that ambulance was on its way to pick up after a bad accident? I see flashing lights and I pull out of the way. It might be someone I know on board and I want that bus to get to treatment ASAP!
Click to expand...

Then so be it, I'll live as a free citizen and concede none of my freedom for what they pass off as safety and really it's heavy handed safety as it's applied.
 
bobpick

bobpick

Inactive
Sligo said:
I think this has been a law here for a few years. I guess so we don't run LEO over while on traffic stops or something. I do it anyway. I'm used to moving over for the buggies and bicycles that I move over for anything on the side of the road these days, just to be safe. I would hate myself if I hit someone, so better safe than sorry. A friend of mine was cycling out on one of our rural roads and was hit from behind by a local touring bus company. She was in a coma for a few weeks and some other serious injuries. She has recovered, and they finally settled with her after a number of years, but like I said, better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

By moving over it gives the cops ample room to beat the snot out of a 85 year old lady, or snap the neck of some 90ish yo guy.
 
Ta-wo-di

Ta-wo-di

Veteran Member
Unless it is a new law in Maryland, and God knows we have plenty, it is not the law here yet. According to the map at the link, Maryland does not have a move over law nor does DC.
 
P

Publius

TB Fanatic
You know our federal government has something to do with this as to many states are doing the same thing at the same time.
 
B

big kumara

meh
We've had this in South Dakota for several years, but with a twist:

Flashing amber lights= slow down/move over

Flashing red or blue lights= come to a complete stop until told to proceed.

And that's how I got rearended on the highway.
 
W

WakeMeUp

Veteran Member
Rich30N90W said:
Louisiana has that also, started sometime this year - the rule is "must move over if able, if not, must drop at least 20 mph below the speed limit". Meaning that when you come up on a scene, you either dash into the left lane and hope not to be run over, or melt your brakes to go say 45 in a 70 - and hope nobody smashes into you from behind :smkd:
Click to expand...

This damn law nearly killed me on a major highway, when an 18-wheeler jumped to the left into my lane to "move over" for a police vehicle.

I nearly hit him, and had I taken my eyes off of the road for a second or two, I and my passenger would have been dead. Top it off, I had been driving long-distance for too long and was exhausted.

I have said this law is stupid before. I don't care what anyone says it is DANGEROUS. I constantly see people freaking out and moving over and obviously without looking first. I wonder how many people have already died thus far due to this not-very-well-thought-out Law.
 
B

big kumara

meh
bobpick said:
Sadly, Wakemeup, no thought was put into it. It's a "feel good" law.
Click to expand...

No, it's a "too many highway patrolmen have been run over" law. Mostly, it's common sense...people just have to pay attention to what's going on around them. And in front of them. And behind them...
 
D

dragonslayer2001

Inactive
..

that's the law in Montana, and it is a good law. It makes sense. If I HAD to get out of my vehicle due to my job I'd prefer the cars passing me at 65-70 mph (The AVERAGE hw speed in Montana)


I'd feel a little better if they were all a good 10 feet or more away from me.
 
pops88

pops88

Girls with Guns Member
I don't know if it was codified into law, but over 30 years ago when I started driving, I was taught to do this and it was practiced in OH and PA. Road safety wise, I consider it common sense. My grandfather and uncle owned their own rigs and defensive driving was heavily preached in my family. Always have an out and always be prepared for someone to pull into your lane. I'll stop there ;)
 
kemosabe

kemosabe

Doooooooooom !
It is a good law persay ..
I just hate when govt has to regulate COMMON SENSE ..


I don't think someone should get a ticket and all that comes with it if you slow your vehicle down to 10/15 mph while driving past..

Seems the ticket fine is excessive , and should be reserved for dumbasses who go flying by a cop pulled over at the side of the road with disregard to the situation...

I always slow down to a crawl when passing a "roadside stop" , and if possible I usually always go over into the other lane about halfway untill I pass them ..

It is common sense...
 
N

NC Susan

Deceased
Old Gray Mare said:
No offence meant Publius but what if it was you or one of your relatives that ambulance was on its way to pick up after a bad accident? I see flashing lights and I pull out of the way. It might be someone I know on board and I want that bus to get to treatment ASAP!
Click to expand...


Its not just the ambulance you have to watch out for. There is probably one or two car loads of crazy family members following that ambulance! Give them the benefit of the emergency.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top