Georgia’s new Move-Over Law says drivers must move-over for emergency
vehicles stopped on the side of the highway. The law is meant to keep
officers AND traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.
The Move-Over Law was passed in the aftermath of growing numbers of
police, emergency technicians and DOT workers being killed during routine
traffic stops, crash responses and highway construction projects around
the nation. Right now, more than thirty states have Move-Over Laws on the
books, with fines that range as high as a thousand dollars or more in some
jurisdictions. The Move-Over fine in Georgia is an “attention-getting” fivehundred-
dollars.

However, failure to obey the Move-Over Law can lead to consequences far
more serious than fines. According to FBI statistics, traffic crashes claim
the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line
of duty, including shootings. The FBI says last year, forty-nine officers died
in crashes across the country. Thirteen of those law enforcement officers
were struck and killed by passing vehicles while they worked outside their
patrol cars.

“Georgia’s Move-Over Law was meant to reduce the number of injuries and
fatalities to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators
and highway maintenance workers,” said Director Bob Dallas of the
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Reports show emergency vehicles of
all types have been struck while parked beside Georgia highways, even
while their emergency lights were flashing.

The Georgia Move-Over Law requires drivers to move-over one lane when
possible if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the
shoulder of the highway. And if traffic is too heavy to move-over safely, the
law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit instead
AND to be prepared to stop.

Move-Over-Law: Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16
a. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized
emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, white, red, or
blue lights shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due
caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer, proceed as
follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency
vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be
impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor
vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic
conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be
prepared to stop.
b. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary towing or
recovery vehicle or a stationary highway maintenance vehicle that is
displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights shall approach the vehicle
with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer,
proceed as follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the towing, recovery, or
highway maintenance vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic
conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be
impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor
vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic
conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be
prepared to stop.
c . Violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section shall be punished
by a fine of not more than $500.00.

< Prev		Next >