DPS PLANNING “MOVE OVER/SLOW DOWN” ENFORCEMENT OPS WEDNESDAY

  

The Texas Department of Public Safety is beginning enforcement efforts for violations of the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law.

These periodic enforcement operations occur throughout the year in different parts of the state, with several planned in October.

One of those operations will take place throughout tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Bryan District.  The Department of Transportation will be participating in a non-enforcement capacity.

The law, which was passed in 2003, requires drivers to move over or slow down when certain vehicles—like police, fire, EMS, TxDOT vehicles and tow trucks—are stopped on the side of the road with their emergency lights on.

Specifically, drivers must either get out of the lane closest to that vehicle, or slow down 20 mph below the speed limit.

Violators of the law could pay up to $200 in fines, or $500 if there is property damage.  If they cause bodily injury, they could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, resulting in possible jail time and up to $2,000 in fines.

According to preliminary data shared by DPS, the department says it issued more than 29,000 warnings and citations to violating motorists, from January to August of this year.