DPS PLANNING MOVE OVER/SLOW DOWN OPERATION WEDNESDAY

  

The Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing its efforts to enforce the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law.

DPS troopers will conduct a Move Over/Slow Down operation throughout the day tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Bryan District. The Department of Transportation will be participating in a non-enforcement capacity.

These operations are planned periodically throughout the year at various locations in Texas, with several planned this month.

The law, originally passed in 2003, 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. Those include police, fire, EMS, TxDOT, tow trucks, highway maintenance or construction vehicles contracted by TxDOT, utility service vehicles, and stationary solid waste or recycling vehicles.

Specifically, the law says drivers need to either vacate the lane closest to the vehicles on the side of the road, or slow down 20 mph below the speed limit. If drivers cannot move over legally or safely, they should slow down.

Violators could be fined up to $200, or up to $500 if there is property damage. If violators cause bodily injury, they could be charged with a class B misdemeanor, resulting in possible jail time and a maximum fine of $2,000.

Last year, DPS issued more than 41,000 warnings and citations to drivers in violation of the law. So far this year, DPS has issued approximately 21,600 warnings and citations.