Police To Keep An Eye Out For "Move Over" Law Violators This Weekend Across Maryland Roads

MARYLAND — Law enforcement agencies across the country will be teaming up to reinforce the "Slow Down - Move Over" campaign Friday through Sunday aimed at protecting first responders and road workers who have dangerous jobs along the side of busy roadways.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 150 law enforcement officers have been killed since 1997 after being struck by vehicles along America’s highways. From 2007 to 2017, 39 percent of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty were lost in traffic-related incidents, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. In Maryland, more than 4,000 people were injured and 53 people were killed in work zone crashes between 2014 and 2019.

Led by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Maryland State Police and others will work this weekend to remind drivers that they are to slow down and, if safe to do so, move over when approaching stopped emergency vehicles with their emergency lights activated.

Maryland's "Move Over" law states that if moving to another lane away from the stopped emergency vehicle is not possible, drivers must slow to a reasonable speed that is safe for existing weather, road and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

The intent of the law is to provide an extra barrier of safety for police officers, firefighters, emergency rescue personnel and service and utility workers working along Maryland roads. The original law went into effect in 2010. In 2014, the law was expanded to not only include police cars but also tow trucks, fire trucks and medical and rescue trucks as well. In 2018, the law expanded again to include transportation, service and utility vehicles, as well as waste and recycling trucks, with yellow or amber flashing lights or signal devices.

In Maryland, violating the "Move Over" law is a misdemeanor carrying a $110 fine and one point on the violator’s driving license. If the violation causes a crash, the fine is $150 and three points. If there is a death or serious injury, the fine is $750 and three points. Since 2015, law enforcement in Maryland have written more than 25,000 citations under the law.

To learn more about Maryland’s “Move Over” law, visit here.