Navigation

‘Move Over’ Law is Wisconsin State Patrol’s Law of the Month

The Wisconsin State Patrol Law of the Month is the Move Over Law. This law states drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped law enforcement and other emergency vehicles.

“Drivers are required to shift lanes if possible or at least slow down when encountering a law enforcement vehicle, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck, highway maintenance vehicle or utility vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing. On interstate highways and other divided roads with multiple directional lanes, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle if you can safely switch lanes,” says State Patrol Captain Ryan Chaffee of the Northeast Region, Fond du Lac Post. “If the road has a single directional lane or you can’t safely move over because of traffic, you must reduce your speed until safely past the vehicle.”

A citation for a Move Over Law violation costs $263.50 with three demerit points added to your driver’s license.

“During winter months, law enforcement officers, tow truck operators and others frequently must respond to crashes and assist motorists whose vehicles have slid off icy roads. Officers and other workers are in danger of being hit while inside or outside their vehicles by out-of-control or speeding vehicles that did not move over,” Captain Chaffee says. “Drivers have a legal and moral responsibility to help protect those who must work on the side of busy roads. By obeying the Move Over Law, drivers can protect themselves, their passengers, our officers and others who work on highways from serious injuries and deaths.”

Article Comments