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News
Release
06/09/08
Captain Wayne M. Miller
Public Information Officer
(386) 506-5810
HELP PROTECT THOSE THAT PROTECT YOU
The
Port Orange Police Department will be participating in the
DHSMV state wide, “Move Over Florida” Educational and
Enforcement Campaign being conducted between June 23 and June
29, 2008. The goal of the “Move Over Florida”
campaign is to promote public awareness and enforce compliance
of the Move Over law in Florida.
The
Move Over law was enacted in 2002 due to an increase in
emergency personnel being injured and killed by vehicles while
working along America’s highways. More than 150 U.S. Law
Enforcement officers have been killed since 1997 after being
struck by vehicles along America’s highways according to the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The “Move
Over Florida” campaign is being conducted to educate
Americans about the "Move Over" law and how they
help protect the law enforcement officers who risk their lives
protecting the public.
Here’s
what the law states: (FSS 316.126)
(1)(a)
Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency
vehicle, while en route to meet an existing emergency, the
driver of every other vehicle shall, when such emergency
vehicle is giving audible signals by siren, exhaust whistle,
or other adequate device, or visible signals by the use of
displayed blue or red lights, yield the right-of-way to the
emergency vehicle and shall immediately proceed to a position
parallel to, and as close as reasonable to the closest edge of
the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and shall
stop and remain in position until the authorized emergency
vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by any law
enforcement officer.
(b) When an authorized emergency vehicle making use of any
visual signals is parked or a wrecker displaying amber
rotating or flashing lights is performing a recovery or
loading on the roadside, the driver of every other vehicle, as
soon as it is safe: 1. Shall vacate the lane closest to the
emergency vehicle or wrecker when driving on an interstate
highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in
the direction of the emergency vehicle or wrecker, except when
otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
2. Shall slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than
the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles
per hour or greater; or travel at 5 miles per hour when the
posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, when driving
on a two-lane road, except when otherwise directed by a law
enforcement officer.
(c) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall
provide an educational awareness campaign informing the
motoring public about the Move Over Act. The department shall
provide information about the Move Over Act in all newly
printed drivers’ license educational materials after July 1,
2002. This section shall not relieve the driver of an
authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due
regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
(2) Every pedestrian using the road right-of-way shall yield
the right-of-way until the authorized emergency vehicle has
passed, unless otherwise directed by any police officer.
(3) Any authorized emergency vehicle, when en route to meet an
existing emergency, shall warn all other vehicular traffic
along the emergency route by an audible signal, siren, exhaust
whistle, or other adequate device or by a visible signal by
the use of displayed blue or red lights. While en route to
such emergency, the emergency vehicle shall otherwise proceed
in a manner consistent with the laws regulating vehicular
traffic upon the highways of this state.
(4) Nothing herein contained shall diminish or enlarge any
rules of evidence or liability in any case involving the
operation of an emergency vehicle.
(5) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an
authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due
regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
(6) A violation of this section is a non-criminal traffic
infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as either a
moving violation for infractions of subsection (1) or
subsection (3), or as a pedestrian violation for infractions
of subsection (2).
In
summary the Florida Move Over law states the following
information:
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On
a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow to a speed
that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed
limit.
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If
the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must
slow down to five miles per hour.
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If
you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple
lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an
emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the
roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so.
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Violating
the move over law puts both yourself and a public safety
professional at risk.
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Violating
the move over law can result in a $93.50 fine and 3 points
on your license.
For
additional information regarding this campaign, please
contact: Sergeant Christopher Besuden of the Port Orange
Police Department Traffic Unit at (386) 506-5840.
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