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.......
Every state except Hawaii and Maryland and the D.C. has this law.
In California , the "Move-over" law became operative on January 1, 2010. http://www.moveoveramerica.com/
A costly Experience Related: My son got a ticket on Pleasant Hill coming back from Wal-Mart. police car (turned out it was 2 police cars) was on the side of the road giving a ticket to someone else. My son 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. My son and I 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 address).
http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC - Hilo, HI
Realtor, Salesperson, ABR SFR
It should be law here in Hawaii too! It amazes me how many people in this land of Aloha don't understand or follow the simplest courtesies or common sense rules about Police cars, Fire trucks or Ambulances. People here wont even honk at someone parked in the middle of the road to talk story with their buddy for 10 minutes, but wont pull over for these vehicles? I don't get it :(
Mar 25, 2010 02:19 PM
REALTOR® - New Port Richey, FL
gotta say I was shocked when my son told me he got a ticket for going the speed limit. But it seems like a good law.
Next up - making road construction crews safer
Mar 25, 2010 02:24 PM
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
WE have to have all these laws because of people who are so self centered taht common sense is all but dead.
Mar 25, 2010 02:45 PM
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services
Heard about this, but I still think most people don't know about it. Scary thought as we continually pass patrol cars on the side of the road. But then I'm always in the fast lane so doesn't affect me :)
Mar 25, 2010 05:45 PM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer
Having lived in Hawaii * I always found it amusing that they had an INTERSTATE Highway from one end of Oahu to the other * the H-1 FREEWAY....talk about federal funds to NOWHERE but BEACHES!!!!
Expensive "lesson" for your son
Mar 25, 2010 10:48 PM
Yadkinville, NC
Law enforcement officers die each year because drivers are driving without actually being aware of what they are doing. Unbelievably, many will actually veer toward the patrol car, just becoming "awake" enough to miss the vehicle, officer or citizen who is stopped. The reason you see patrol cars at an angle to the stopped citizen is to have the patrol car be hit first by passing motorists and a lane of protection for the officer and citizen. Folks, just be alert when you are driving and get in the other lane.
Mar 26, 2010 03:54 PM
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist
Hey, Janice - Is it "slow down by 20 mph" or "slow down to 20 mph"? Seems like slowing from 65 to 45 still leaves a lot of room to injure someone stopped on the side of the road. Then again, though, slowing down from 65 to 20 could also be disastrous, except that it seems that if anyone is stopped on the side of the road, police or otherwise, everyone merely stops to have a look, so I'm not seeing the problem. LOL
Apr 02, 2010 12:13 PM
Rainmaker
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