Brian4Liberty
05-29-2013, 07:46 PM
So apparently they are doing this in many States. Most people are unaware of these new move-over laws (details below). Basically they will set-up with multiple Highway Patrol or Police cars on the side of the road, with lights flashing. You will pass by and wonder what that was all about. They will pull over everyone who passes the cars, unless you follow very specific rules. Must be a good money maker. Oh yeah, it's for Officer Safety!
Three felonies a day, and untold violations...
The laws vary by State.
Question: Could you please explain the correct way for vehicles to pass a patrol car sitting on the shoulder of the road with lights flashing and an officer writing a ticket, for example. I've heard new rules had been instituted in recent years due to several serious accidents related to situations like this, and the fines for violation are quite hefty. How about when an ambulance or aid car has lights flashing while parked on the side of the road?
Answer: The RCW is fairly lengthy but covers quite a bit of valuable information. I have copied it below. The law covers not only emergency vehicles, but also tow-truck operators and highway workers. The basic premise is, you need to change lanes away from them if you are on a multi-lane road and it is safe to do so. If you cannot change lanes, you need to slow to at, or below, the posted speed limit as you pass them. (Or 20 mph below the speed limit in some States)
RCW 46.61.212 Approaching emergency zones - Penalty - Violation.
(1) The driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching an emergency zone, which is defined as the adjacent lanes of the roadway two hundred feet before and after (a) a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is making use of audible and/or visual signals meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.190, (b) a tow truck that is making use of visual red lights meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.196, (c) other vehicles providing roadside assistance that are making use of warning lights with 360-degree visibility, or (d) a police vehicle properly and lawfully displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating emergency light or lights, shall:
(i) On a highway having four or more lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right of way by making a lane change or moving away from the lane or shoulder occupied by the stationary authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle;
(ii) On a highway having less than four lanes, proceed with caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, and under the rules of this chapter, yield the right of way by passing to the left at a safe distance and simultaneously yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the highway; or
(iii) If changing lanes or moving away would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle.
(2) A person may not drive a vehicle in an emergency zone at a speed greater than the posted speed limit.
(3) A person found to be in violation of this section, or any infraction relating to speed restrictions in an emergency zone, must be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced or suspended.
(4) A person who drives a vehicle in an emergency zone in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any emergency zone worker or property is guilty of reckless endangerment of emergency zone workers. A violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(5) The department shall suspend for 60 days the driver's license, permit to drive or nonresident driving privilege of a person convicted of reckless endangerment of emergency zone workers.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/04/14/2554359/rules-of-the-road-whats-the-law.html#storylink=cpy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_over_law
Move Over laws were originated in the US after a South Carolina Paramedic, James D. Garcia, was struck and injured at an accident scene Jan. 28, 1994, in Lexington, SC. Garcia was listed at fault, leading to his work to create a law to protect other emergency responders. SC's version (SC 56-5-1538) passed in 1996, and was revised in 2002.
After a series of similar events across the US in 2000, the US Dept of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration began to address the issue of Emergency Scene Safety, and issued recommended changes for the new MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) that finally addressed the need for improved standards and protection for Emergency Workers. With the further assistance of public interest groups such as the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (www.respondersafety.com), "Move Over Laws" became standard across the US and Canada.
In United States, the move over laws are aimed at protecting emergency responders working along the roadside. Forty-nine U.S. states have passed move over laws, which were promoted in response to increasing roadside fatalities in the line of duty. The law require drivers, upon noticing either emergency vehicle with sirens or flashing lights, to move away from the vehicle by one lane, or if that is not possible, slow down by 20 mph (32kmh) below the posted speed limit. This includes law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances. In New York State, drivers must use due care when approaching an emergency vehicle that displays red and/or white emergency lighting such as law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances and also vehicles with flashing amber lighting such as tow trucks, construction vehicles and other service workers stopped along the side of the road while performing their duties.[6]
Currently, only Washington, D.C. does not have a move over law. On June 17, 2009, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed House Bill 5894, establishing a Move Over requirement in the state. Connecticut's Move Over law took effect on October 1, 2009.[7][8] On August 13, 2010, New York's governor signed a move over law to take effect 1/1/2011. On 1/1/12 the move over law was modified to include, not only police, fire trucks and ambulances, but also hazard vehicles, such as tow trucks.[9] Maryland's move over law provisions, which were approved by Governor O'Malley on May 20, 2010, came into effect on October 1, 2010.[10][11] On October 1, 2012 North Carolina's newly revised "move over law", which has been expanded include utility and maintenance operations, will go into effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_over_law
More:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp
Three felonies a day, and untold violations...
The laws vary by State.
Question: Could you please explain the correct way for vehicles to pass a patrol car sitting on the shoulder of the road with lights flashing and an officer writing a ticket, for example. I've heard new rules had been instituted in recent years due to several serious accidents related to situations like this, and the fines for violation are quite hefty. How about when an ambulance or aid car has lights flashing while parked on the side of the road?
Answer: The RCW is fairly lengthy but covers quite a bit of valuable information. I have copied it below. The law covers not only emergency vehicles, but also tow-truck operators and highway workers. The basic premise is, you need to change lanes away from them if you are on a multi-lane road and it is safe to do so. If you cannot change lanes, you need to slow to at, or below, the posted speed limit as you pass them. (Or 20 mph below the speed limit in some States)
RCW 46.61.212 Approaching emergency zones - Penalty - Violation.
(1) The driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching an emergency zone, which is defined as the adjacent lanes of the roadway two hundred feet before and after (a) a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is making use of audible and/or visual signals meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.190, (b) a tow truck that is making use of visual red lights meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.196, (c) other vehicles providing roadside assistance that are making use of warning lights with 360-degree visibility, or (d) a police vehicle properly and lawfully displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating emergency light or lights, shall:
(i) On a highway having four or more lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right of way by making a lane change or moving away from the lane or shoulder occupied by the stationary authorized emergency vehicle or police vehicle;
(ii) On a highway having less than four lanes, proceed with caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, and under the rules of this chapter, yield the right of way by passing to the left at a safe distance and simultaneously yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the highway; or
(iii) If changing lanes or moving away would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle.
(2) A person may not drive a vehicle in an emergency zone at a speed greater than the posted speed limit.
(3) A person found to be in violation of this section, or any infraction relating to speed restrictions in an emergency zone, must be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced or suspended.
(4) A person who drives a vehicle in an emergency zone in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any emergency zone worker or property is guilty of reckless endangerment of emergency zone workers. A violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(5) The department shall suspend for 60 days the driver's license, permit to drive or nonresident driving privilege of a person convicted of reckless endangerment of emergency zone workers.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/04/14/2554359/rules-of-the-road-whats-the-law.html#storylink=cpy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_over_law
Move Over laws were originated in the US after a South Carolina Paramedic, James D. Garcia, was struck and injured at an accident scene Jan. 28, 1994, in Lexington, SC. Garcia was listed at fault, leading to his work to create a law to protect other emergency responders. SC's version (SC 56-5-1538) passed in 1996, and was revised in 2002.
After a series of similar events across the US in 2000, the US Dept of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration began to address the issue of Emergency Scene Safety, and issued recommended changes for the new MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices) that finally addressed the need for improved standards and protection for Emergency Workers. With the further assistance of public interest groups such as the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (www.respondersafety.com), "Move Over Laws" became standard across the US and Canada.
In United States, the move over laws are aimed at protecting emergency responders working along the roadside. Forty-nine U.S. states have passed move over laws, which were promoted in response to increasing roadside fatalities in the line of duty. The law require drivers, upon noticing either emergency vehicle with sirens or flashing lights, to move away from the vehicle by one lane, or if that is not possible, slow down by 20 mph (32kmh) below the posted speed limit. This includes law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances. In New York State, drivers must use due care when approaching an emergency vehicle that displays red and/or white emergency lighting such as law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances and also vehicles with flashing amber lighting such as tow trucks, construction vehicles and other service workers stopped along the side of the road while performing their duties.[6]
Currently, only Washington, D.C. does not have a move over law. On June 17, 2009, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed House Bill 5894, establishing a Move Over requirement in the state. Connecticut's Move Over law took effect on October 1, 2009.[7][8] On August 13, 2010, New York's governor signed a move over law to take effect 1/1/2011. On 1/1/12 the move over law was modified to include, not only police, fire trucks and ambulances, but also hazard vehicles, such as tow trucks.[9] Maryland's move over law provisions, which were approved by Governor O'Malley on May 20, 2010, came into effect on October 1, 2010.[10][11] On October 1, 2012 North Carolina's newly revised "move over law", which has been expanded include utility and maintenance operations, will go into effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_over_law
More:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp