Law Enforcement Officials Claim Drivers Not Paying Attention To 'Move Over' Law
Some people claim a law designed to protect law enforcement officers and emergency workers on the side of the road is not getting the attention of drivers.
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Trooper Beckley Vaughn thinks about getting killed every time he makes a traffic stop.
"You don't think about being shot as much as you think about being run over," he said. "I've jumped on the hoods of cars or on the guard rail; I've jumped out of the road."
The "move over" law, passed in 2002, requires drivers to move over one lane or at least slow down when approaching a pulled-over law enforcement or emergency vehicle. However, many drivers either do not know about the law or they are blatantly breaking it.
"None of them are moving over. None of them are trying to move over," Vaughn said.
Since the "move over" law was enacted three years ago, 72 troopers have been struck by passing cars and two troopers have been killed.
Under the 2002 law, drivers who did not move over one lane faced a $25 fine plus court costs. The law going into effect in 2006 hikes it to $250 plus misdemeanor or felony charges.
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