New York – The “Move Over Act” took effect Saturday.
The new state law is designed to protect law enforcement, fire personnel and emergency workers takes effect on January 1, 2011.
The law requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching a parked authorized emergency vehicle with emergency lights flashing.
The law obligates drivers to move over to the lane that is farthest from where the emergency vehicle is pulled over. On single lane roads, drivers are required to slow down and take care to pass emergency vehicles at a safe distance. Violators will face fines and points charged against their driver’s license.
(Source: MidHudsonNews / WCBSTV)
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10 Responses
Will this apply to Hatzoloh and Shomrim personel as well??
This law seems a bit vague as to EXACTLY what one is obligated to do, and under what circumstances.
It seems to leave a lot of room for cops to give tickets EVEN WHEN drivers were trying to do the right thing.
Sounds pretty stupid to me. If they decide to give someone a ticket on the Palisades they have to mess up traffic for the entire half hour?! Is there not enough traffic slowers that we need more?
why is there no law requiring police to move over as far to the right as they can when pulling someone over? way too often i have to make my way around cops who are taking up one or even two lanes because they pulled someone over. (by the way, this is something i have only seen in the past few years, since i got married and moved to ny)
People don’t even pull over for MOVING emergency vehicles half the time…
Its really sick when I see an emergency vehicle racing to save someone’s life or whatever they have to do and you see some selfish driver carrying on their way, not moving aside. These personnel put their lives on the line for others. At least have the decency to respect life by moving over, stopping or slowing down.
This is a very important, life-saving law. It’s common sense. Personally, I’ve been observing this regulation for the longest time. Not only for Emergency vehicles but for any vehicle parked on the shoulder, I move to the adjacent (Outer) lane. Anyone who fails to do that should be fined heavily with points assessed against their license.
#1) It will apply to Hatzolah but not Shomrim.
#2) Move to the right.
#3) Before calling it “stupid” and worrying that you will be delayed, look at why the law was passed.
The law was created because too many first responders have been injured or killed while operating on the highway. Most of the time, drivers slow to merge out of the blocked land. Sometimes, after they’ve merged, they’ll accelerate past the incident (disabled vehicle, accident, etc.) and strike the responders working on the road. The law itself was pushed by a paramedic who was badly injured while working at an accident site.
#4)
Many cops (and EMS workers) will deliberately block a second lane when on a highway. IF there is a wide shoulder, then possibly not. However, if it is a narrow shoulder or lane, for their own safety they’ll block the second lane.
In addition to simply having room to work, the police sometimes need to park at a slight angle and to the left in order to have a good line of sight while at the same time staying out of the line of sight of the rear view mirrors of the vehicle that’s been stopped (it’s a safety technique).
It may seem inconsiderate but it is sometimes needed to operate in a safe manner.
#8: Why would this NOT apply to Shomrim? They’re just as involved in emergency situations at times as any LEA…Did you author this law that you can state this with such certainty?? Please explain yourself…