I believe the excerpt below that I received via e-mail is true because I recently saw a flashing sign on the highway mentioning it. I think I was in NY at the time.

A GOOD THING TO KNOW:

New Law: If a patrol car is pulled over to the side of the road, you must change to the next lane (away from the stopped vehicle) or slow down by 20 mph. Every state except Hawaii and Maryland and D.C. has adopted this law now.

In New Jersey , the "Move-over" law became operative in 2009, fine up to $500. http://www.moveoveramerica.com/ <http://www.moveoveramerica.com/>

A friend's son got a ticket for this recently. A police car (turned out it was 2 police cars) was on the side of the road giving a ticket to someone else. He slowed down to pass but did not move into the other lane. The second police car immediately pulled him over and gave him a ticket. He had never heard of the law.

It is a fairly new law that states if any emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, if you are able, you are to move into the far lane. The cost of the ticket was $754, with 3 points on your license and a mandatory court appearance.

Please tell everyone you know about this new law.

_________________
Ross Williams
1978 280Z Black Pearl Edition 38k Original Miles

I am probably the last one who should talk about the lack of common
sense, but that is probably the underlying reason for the law.

Think about it. If there is an area where a vehicle can be pulled off
the road, away from the right-hand travel lane by about 3 or more car
widths, then there is a decent margin of safety. But how frequently do
we see those, especially along I-95 west of Clinton (and progressively
worse as you travel toward the west), along southern I-91, and along
the Parkway? Few and far between.

It seems like the most natural thing to move at least half a lane to the
left in case a door opens suddenly or someone emerges out from in
front of the car. Apparently it isn't natural to some folks.

It would be if they could see some of the things Kathy and I have seen
on various Cop shows as recorded by dash cams in cruisers.

FWIW,.......................................Kathy & Rick

_________________
All Z Best,.......Kathy & Rick

1969 Z.CAR (#00013 10/69) 8/30/76
1969 ITSA.Z (#00171 11/69) 8/24/73
1970 OLD.Z (#06289 6/70) original owner
1971 510 2dr since 12/31/75
1969 1600 rdstr (our 160-Z)
1971 (#19851 1/71) sold
1975 75.Z (#01343 1/75)

This law has been a long time coming and is much needed. More police officers are killed by traffic than by any other threat. This law went into effect on 01Jan10 in several states, and I am glad to see it observed in most instances.

If you are not able to move left (or right, depending on which shoulder the emergency vehicle occupies), you are required to slow WAYYYYY down.

Weird things happen during traffic stops. Drivers leap from their cars and try to flee. Officers get assaulted and have to back away, sometimes into traffic. Even kids and dogs jump out of stopped cars unexpectedly, sometimes followed by a family member trying to stop them. And there are still some drivers who believe it is their responsibility to exit their vehicle and walk back to the police car when they are stopped.

There is no such thing as a 'routine' traffic stop! Every one is different and people are unpredictable. They may not all be aggressive, but they sure don't think well under the stress of a traffic stop, and they can do some VERY weird things.

Expect the unexpected. Do your very best to get as far away from the stop as you can safely get, and slow down.

What Frank said! Amen brother.

_________________
John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

Amen to the Amen!--

Some drivers aren't especially careful near construction sites, either!
And don't get me into the cell phone thing.................
FWIW, ~Rick~

it would only make sense to change lanes when you see flashing lights ahead, but people now are in their own worlds when they drive.when i was still working , i was doing a xray welding job on 20" steam pipe under a roadway. the road was dug up with a steel plate over the open area.we had signs up far enough back to slow traffic and also had people with flags to slow people down to a crawl when passing over the steel plate. there were people honking and cursing and still speeding to get wherever they had to go, with no thought what so ever about conditions around them.i had my heart in my mouth the whole time in that ditch. maybe that is why i have white hair now!! people, slow down, be careful, the person you kill could be one of our own!!

(So THAT'S the reason you have white hair at age 30! )

I have always pulled over out of curtiousy and safety, slow down when I can't pull over, but it's nice to know there is another reason to get pulled over. Of course there are the ones that have caused this to take affect.

I'm assuming they mean slow down 20 mph below the speed limit, not from your actual speed....

_________________
Phil
1981 280zxt - Now in the care my son!
2014 370Z Sports Touring Roadster

Yea Phil that's what I ment.

Its funny how far behind the times this state is compared to Michigan. In Michigan it has been law for as long as I can remember.. Un what were talking about?

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Broken Z's make me sad

This has always been the thing to do and now is law.
Be careful on the Merritt or Wilbur Cross though. In bumper to bumper traffic the State Troopers may come down the middle because both lanes can move right or left enough to allow them through. It's much easier than trying to move two lanes at once. Fire apparatus will do the same.
Keep your eyes on the mirror when you hear an emergency vehicle approaching from the rear.