DPS PLANNING “MOVE OVER, SLOW DOWN” OPERATION WEDNESDAY

  

The Texas Department of Public Safety is planning an enforcement operation of the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law for tomorrow (Wednesday).

These operations occur periodically through the year in different parts of the state, with several planned in November.  One of these operations will take place in the Bryan District throughout tomorrow.  The Department of Transportation will be taking part in a non-enforcement capacity.

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

Specifically, drivers must either get out of the lane closest to that vehicle, or slow down 20 mph below the speed limit.  Drivers should only move over if they can do so safely and legally; otherwise, they should slow down.

Violators of the law could be charged 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 a max fine of $2,000.

Preliminary data from January to September of this year shows that DPS issued more than 32,000 warnings and citations to violators.