Move over laws

[expressbus]

Troopers stopping someone on the shoulder of the road is just the way they have always done it. In the State of Maryland they had a procedure where a team of Police did speed enforcement. The Officer that was going to write the ticket actually jumped out into traffic to point at the car that was to pull over. A couple of years ago, after losing an Officer on this duty (surprise), the Maryland State Police bureaucrats finally had a light bulb moment and thought there must be a better way.

It seems to me that law enforcement officers could implement a procedure where the offender was escorted to the next exit ramp with the stop taking place on the ramp. That would at least be where speeds and traffic volume were lowest. Those two factors would seem to me to provide the safest environment for the Officer and the offender.

FWIW I too make it a practice to move away from any stopped vehicle AND to reduce my speed. I've always wondered with traffic operating 10 - 15 over the posted if one simply reduced their speed to the posted would they be in compliance with this law?

[jackhartjr]

Cody, do you know the Retired MI State Trooper that did the "Room to Live" seat belt videos?  If so what is his name?
They were the most effective ones I have seen!
Jack

[jackhartjr]

ExpressBus, you may want to almost come to a stop to keep from getting a ticket if you can't go into the next lane...they are hungry wolves out there...with instructions to write ANY ticket they can!
And yes...I used to watch those fools litteraly jump out into the middle of a lane to tell someone to pull over. I thought it pretty stupid then too!
Jack

[cody]

That would have been jack ware, I'm not sure if the video is still available tho.

[jackhartjr]

Several years ago a company I was with was going to purchase them for several schools, they were several hundred dollars each, we did not purchase near what we would have liked to.
GREAT video!
Jack

[RJ]

Interestingly, the CHP in CA, when doing a routine traffic stop (are any of them ever routine??), now has the officer approach the vehicle from the passenger side, away from traffic.  Still positions the patrol car as a shield, but the potential for traffic-related injury is substantially reduced.

Wonder why more jurisdictions don't follow suit?

FWIW & HTH. . .

[wildbob24]

RJ,

That policy must be spreading. I've recently noticed Georgia State Patrol and county police around metro Atlanta doing the same thing.

Bob

[luvrbus]

They do the same here in AZ but we still have the move over or slow down law.
Dummy me didn't even know it was the law here till I read about it because growing up in Texas it was always a pratice the DPS guys would really get pissed when you blew their Stetsons off don't ask how I know that lol.  



good luck

[PCC]

I am so glad to see such solid support for the law to protect officers doing their job. I agree, it must not be used as a money grab, but I also agree with the comment that moving over should be fo ALL vehicles on the side of the road.

Recently, just north of Houston, a husband stopped to let his wife drive, and while walking around the vehicle, they were struck by a pick-up and he was killed.

Move over - give room - make life safer for everyone.

[Depewtee]

Room to Live

Room to Live II

Room to Live III

The New Room to Live

Brian S.

[Lin]

I agree with those that say it is basically common sense to give any vehicle, person, or bicycle on the road side extra room.  Traffic permitting, I often drive in the left lane figuring that one never knows when something will pop out on the right.  It would make a lot of sense for officers to escort their mark to the next safe place to pull over though.  I wonder if this is not done because it would take more time and thereby reduce traffic ticket income.  It is a bit ingenuous to think that the CHP is out there with only our safety in mind and not with a strong motivation to generate income.  One might argue that if the state cared more about the lives of officers than the money, it would be policy to have traffic stops completed in safe places when possible.  I have been pulled over before where the officer got on his loudspeaker and told me to proceed to the next exit or clearing.  It would seem that radar traps could easily be staged where such things were available.

[jackhartjr]

Thanks for linking those old Room to Live Videos!
JAck

[RickB]

Are my eyes deceiving me or did we just have consensus on a subject??? I never thought I'd live to see the day when we would all agree on something. We better watch it or we'll all start driving Eagles or something!!! Just kidding.


I am impressed and I am in full agreement as well.

Rick

[BG6]

I was unaware of this until I got an email about it this morning. 

Why would you NOT just move over anyhow, if you have the room?

It doesn't matter if it's an EV or not -- anything parked on the side of the road is likely to hatch a pedestrian at any time, and they tend to be fragile.

[Lin]

BG6,

I am nor sure if the comment was specifically for me, but as mentioned above that is my normal practice anyway.  However, I still think that it is good to be aware that it is a law.  Apparently at times there have been traps set up where they radar passing cars and ticket them if they are not at least 20 mph below that posted speed limit.  These traps can involve a half dozen units.  I find it odd that these laws are not common knowledge.  Everyone knows about child safety seat requirements, but in that case it is to the advantage of safety seat manufacturers to get the news out.  Certainly insurance companies want you to know about seat belt laws.  In this case, it is unlikely that a unit in the midst of an emergency or even just writing a citation will have the ability to enforce the law on those passing at the time.  Even when they set up enforcement traps for move over laws, they really educate only a handful of motorists.  The others that pass by assume they are issuing speeding tickets.