Posted on 07/27/2011 8:43:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Dear FReeper friends... I just got this e-mail and wanted to make sure if you are aware of the existence of this new nationwide traffic law ...
Most importantly --- IS IT TRUE?
Thanks
______________________________________________________________________________________
New Traffic Law 2010 - Ticket cost $754.00
GOOD THING TO KNOW: New Law: If a patrol car is pulled over to the side of the road, you have to change to the next lane (away from the stopped vehicle) or slow down by 20 mph. Every state except Hawaii , Maryland and D.C. has this law. In California , the "Move-over" law became operative on January 1, 2010.
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 let everyone you know that drives about this new law. It is true, see details at the following web address:
http://www.moveoveramerica.com/
“Slow down, as the law states, at least here in VA. No big deal.”
In Virginia, a Class 1 misdemeanor for a second or subsequent violation is a big deal.
http://www.vsp.state.va.us/SlowDownMoveOver_VAcode.shtm
If you don’t slow down or move over, it SHOULD be a big deal. But I personally would rather see a big fine for HOV cheaters.
I am unwilling to trade risk reduction in exchange for a more powerful government.
Are you a cop, ambulance driver, or part of a road crew?
If not, you’re not at a great risk, if you use your head.
I never knew it was law but I’ve *always* done it.
You never know what then trooper might be shoved into traffic or something else may go horribly wrong with his “routine traffic stop”.
I do the same for broke down semis and other vehicles, as well.
Kids or pets could jump out of the car.
*If* I have no room to move over, I’ll slow down far enough ahead that others either make room for me or pass by so I can get over.
*Most* drivers here move over, automatically.
I drive a 1000 miles a week. Have for 15 years. I have been on the shoulder plenty of times. I will take my chances. Your “you just don’t understand the risks union thugs take” argument is amusing but ineffective”.
I have more respect for coal miners and truck drivers. At least they have a valuable product. They work in a far more dangerous environment, and are economic producers.
Cops, on the other hand, not so much. EMT’s and construction workers, as well as tow truck guys and road service people are all pretty valuable. Union thugs with guns? Economic consumers. They feast on the fat of society, and prey on the productive.
Protect everybody or nobody.
You are correct. I saw some APD officers on 183 a couple of weeks ago, and they'd stop a truck with a squad car. About 150 yards past the truck, there were two motorcycle cops with their radar guns. Any motorist not moving over or slowing to 45 on that road, and they'd be on them like stink on dog poo.
I do remember that it was a pretty steep fine and points on your license.
You can get a ticket in many places for staying in the left lane while not passing.
I have no problem with the idea of protecting everybody, provided that everybody have the proper safety equipment and ready to use them if they need to be stopped by the side of the road.
Things like flares, pylons, flourescent vests and whatever else is reasonable to ensure safety.
Ensure safety?
Nobody can ensure safety. Your momma can’t, your daddy can’t, Jesus can, but he won’t. Safety can be enhanced and risk reduced by thoughtful action. Safety can never be ensured. Doesn’t matter how many laws are passed or how many cops are hired.
People should take measures. I do. But not everybody will. That’s fine with me if people want to go out on a boat without a life vest. I wouldn’t. It’s fine with me if somebody wants to ride a motorcycle in shorts and flip flops. I won’t. If somebody drives drunk, and kills somebody they should be charged with Murder One. Not manslaughter. If somebody drives drunk and damages property, they should have to provide full compensation or go to into indentured servitude to pay the bill. But I don’t want the gubment setting up road blocks and jailing people for .08 blood alcohol. It’s way too much power to give the gubment.
So real punishment for loss of life and property. No make work prophylactic law enforcement. That’s just way too much power to give politicians and GED armed union thugs.
You have the right to be careless with your life, but you don’t have the right to be careless with another person’s life. I have no problem with the idea of letting you live as you wish, inside your bubble, and when they find your carcass, leaving you on the side of the road as an example of what not to do in life.
But I do have a problem when you extend that attitude into actions that can seriously affect another person. Then you go from being a freedom-loving patriot to being an arse, which IMHO has no place in a civil society.
I’ve met your conditions of protecting everybody, so people having to do a public service that is necessary for a civilized society to exist.
If it’s really about freedom for people in general and not just freedom, while at the expense of other people, than you should find my suggestion reasonable.
And people like yourself makes everybody else glad that the Forefathers did not include the right to drive in the constitution, so that your license can be yanked at the appropriate time.
I said that the law you must pull over for people on the shoulder is fine as long as the exalted class, the gubment workers are not the only people to enjoy that protection. Does that mean you have to to get all lathered up?
But we have too many laws. We have too many gubment employees. We have too many voters clamoring for more laws and more gubment employees. We have have too many politicians catering to scared little public school graduates who demand their safety be guaranteed.
ping
Yes we change lanes as soon as it is safe if we
come around a corner and see flashing lights on
the shoulder of the road. Ever stood on the side
of the road when a big truck goes past you at 70 mph?
Gets a little breezy. State trooper reeeeally hate it
when we blow their hats off.
After a terrifying ambulance ride as a passenger on I-10 through Las Cruces going to El Paso I don’t believe New Mexico enforces any of their laws about emergency vehicles. Traffic did not yield or slow down in the least, instead people were weaving in and out in an attempt to pass, and cutting in front of and crowding the ambulance. The ambulance was running lights and sirens and was even a Children’s Hospital ambulance (grandson was the patient) it made no difference.
I could tell that Texas seems to take their emergency vehicle laws seriously though- as soon as we crossed the state line the traffic began to slow and get in the other lane or off the road.
That was the craziest ride of my life! I could not believe the lack of respect for an ambulance.
Thanks for this reply. It proves my point when I said “I see truckers doing this a lot. It pisses me off.”
Most drivers (including me) know better than to drive side by side with a trucker. But thanks to this “move over” law we see (from your post) just how dangerous this really is.
Because you WILL move over. And if we don’t slam on the brakes, we’ll get smashed all to hell.
Look at it from our POV. You’re in the right lane, we’re in the left passing you at least 5 to 10 mph faster. All of a sudden as we round that curve or crest that hill, YOU see that cop on the side of the road writing yet another ticket. Do we? Nope. Your 75 feet of tractor trailer obscures that unhappy business.
But what do we see? We see your blinker come on and you cut us off with mere feet to spare as you swerve over in front of us.
That, my big rig friend, is effed up.
I look for the flashing blue and red lights reflecting off of road sign, cars, and vehicles traveling the other direction. Plus, most drivers still communicate with a CB radio.
So, if you are going 5-10 mph faster than I am, you should be able to get around me in about 4 seconds. The problem comes when you(my four wheeler FRiend) notice the lights and slow down so you don't get clocked by the trooper outside of his car paying no attention to you whatsoever.
And no, I'm not going to move over and smash you all to hell. Too much paperwork! =) I won't move until it I am certain I have enough clearance to do so without hitting your vehicle. It might be a tad too close for your liking, but I assure you I will not touch your car.
Travel safely, R2nd. And good night to you.
BT
If here is anybody following you, I pay attention, keep up with traffic, and let people pass when on four lane highways. I also generally use mostly six or eight lane highways where the middle lane/s won't support either kind of citation.
I also pay attention to the the communities I pass through and their traffic enforcement tactics to be aware of entrapment policies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.