February 'Move Over' Enforcement Cited 1,266 Florida Drivers
The 29-day campaign stressed moving over one lane or slowing to 20 mph below the speed limit when approaching any emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road.
Preliminary results from the Florida Highway Patrol's "Move Over" enforcement campaign in February suggests the state’s law is frequently violated. During the 29-day period when troopers emphasized getting drivers to move over for stopped emergency vehicles, they issued 1,266 citations for violating it.
Troopers issued 69,029 citations overall, including 23,500 speeding citations, and arrested 620 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The law requires drivers to move over one lane or slow down to 20 miles per hour below the speed limit when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle or wrecker displaying rotating or flashing lights and stopped on the side of a roadway.
"Law enforcement officers are out there every day working to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities. Motorists need to know the rules of the road, such as the Move Over law, and abide by them," said Col. David Brierton, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. "Over the past two months, three of our troopers have been struck by motorists while working on our highways."
Trooper Richard Guzman's vehicle was struck Jan. 4 in Hillsborough County. Vehicles also hit Trooper David Rodriguez Jan. 26 in Orange County and Trooper Daniel Morley Feb. 23 in Palm Beach County.