ROAD RULES
Crackdown law comes into effect with $500 fines & jail time for drivers who fail to make crucial move on the road
See if your state has the law in place
KENTUCKY lawmakers are expanding a popular traffic law to help drivers.
States across the US have laws that require drivers to pull over and make way for emergency responders on the road.
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Kentucky passed a state law in 2003 that required drivers to slow down or move over for highway crews, emergency responders, or tow truck operators.
The state legislature recently passed an expansion on this law to include disabled vehicles.
This encompasses any vehicle with emergency flashers, flares, or another warning signal, including civilian vehicles that have their hazard lights on.
Drivers must move over to another lane if it's safe or slow down if they're unable to merge.
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Failure to comply with the law can result in a fine of over $60 or up to $500.
Those who violate the law could also spend time in the county jail, up to 30 days.
Violators will not receive both jail time and a penalty fine.
The law's expansion is intended to protect civilians and decrease deaths on the road.
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The new addition to the legislation went into effect on Monday.
According to the Kentucky State Police, 6,572 collisions occurred in 2021 involving a parked vehicle.
Driver warning as crackdown lands over $15k fines in just two days – 42 drivers even have cars impounded
Of those collisions, 13 of them resulted in deaths.
There were also 916 collisions involving pedestrians in the same year, 77 of which resulted in fatalities.
Move Over laws differ in each state but are intended to prevent these roadside collisions.
State laws can include provisions for first responders, tow trucks, municipal vehicles, utility vehicles, road maintenance, and disabled vehicles.
The only states that require drivers to move over for all of the above are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Virginia.
South Carolina was the first state to enact a Move Over law in 1996.
More details on the Kentucky law
Drivers in Kentucky will have to slow down or move over for the following vehicles,
- First responders
- Tow trucks
- Municipal vehicles
- Utility vehicles
- Road maintenance
- Disabled vehicles
Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $500 and even jail time.
Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray told The U.S. Sun, "Expanding Kentucky's 'Slow Down, Move Over' law to encompass all vehicles supports Team Kentucky's mission to provide safe highways for all road users."
"Every motorist, regardless of their vehicle's size or purpose, deserves to make it to their destination safely — every trip, every time."
Kentucky State Police Public Affairs Commander Captain Paul Blanton added, “While Kentucky’s law enforcement work to protect both those who call the commonwealth home and those who are visiting, we need drivers to slow down and move over."
“Unfortunately, first responders are killed every year by drivers who fail to move over. Let us best serve all citizens and their loved ones by working together and doing what is easiest by slowing down and moving over.”
FOLLOWING THE RULES
Kentucky is the latest state to enact new legislation that could have drivers paying out hefty fines.
Connecticut passed a law earlier this summer to implement noise-monitoring cameras on the roads.
The state began adding the technology on July 1 which issues tickets to drivers based on their engine noise.
If a driver's engine goes over 80 decibels, they will receive a warning from the state.
A second offense can result in a $100 fine while a third offense can result in a $250 ticket.
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Georgia also passed a law that went into effect on July 1 that is intended to decrease illegal street racing.
The law increases penalties for drivers caught racing and allows police to ticket spectators and organizers of the events.