Crime & Safety

Highway Patrol Beefs Up Enforcement at Crash Scenes

Officers will be paying special attention to vehicles that fail to obey laws, as they drive by accident scenes. Those who don't obey the law are subject to tickets and fines.

Have you ever buzzed by a wreck on the highway, eyeballed the first responders on the scene – and kept driving without changing lanes or slowing down?

The only problem is you broke the law. And you may not get off so easy next time. The Florida Highway Patrol is dedicating the month of February to educate motorists about the "Move Over" campaign.

But you don't want to take a crash course from state highway patrol officers with a ticket book in their hand. Officers will be paying special attention to vehicles that fail to obey laws, as they drive by accident scenes. Those who don't obey the law are subject to tickets and fines.

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The Move Over Law is designed to keep first responders safe as they try to save lives, after a highway accident.

Here's a quick primer on the law:

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  • Motorists are mandated to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle or wrecker when driving on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle. 
  • If such movement cannot be accomplished safely, or when traveling on a two-lane roadway, the driver must slow down to a speed of 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

Find additional details and public service announcements on Florida’s Move Over Law at www.flhsmv.gov/SafetyTips. Floridians who travel to other states should know that nearly every state has a Move Over Law. Hawaii and Washington D.C. are the only areas that do not. 

Since 1999, more than 170 law enforcement officers in the United States have died after being struck by motor vehicles. Thousands have been injured.

To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov or follow them on Twitter @FDHSMV. You can find the agency on Facebook, too. 


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