Move Over or Slow Down

It's the law, move over for stopped emergency vehicles.  That is the message that national and local law enforcement officials are sending to the public.

Trooper Shawn Baxter with the Texas Department of Public Safety said, "Basically the whole purpose of the law is to help protect public safety personnel across the state.  Public safety personnel are law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS officials."

The State of Texas adopted the law in 2003 which requires motorist to slow down 20 miles per hour under the posted speed limit or vacate the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle.

"It is designed to basically have motorist become aware of what they are doing when they are approaching an emergency vehicle," Baxter said. 

Over the past decade more than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed after being struck by vehicles along America's highways.

"This is something that, you know, it is near and dear to law enforcement," said Baxter.  "Just for the fact that I have a better chance or troopers have a better chance of being killed by a car then they do by being shot."

Baxter says officers are not the only ones at risk, the motorist being pulled over are often becoming victims of careless drivers.  This is why violators may have to pay a hefty price. 

Baxter said, "A violation of this law is a Class C misdemeanor but the fines have been extended up to $500.  So you can be fined up to $500 as a Class C.  If there is any property damage or injuries to anybody it becomes a Class B misdemeanor which means fines up to $2000 and up to 180 days in jail."

Troopers want to remind motorist that there will be an increase of officers on the highways this Fourth of July Holiday.