“MOVE OVER, SLOW DOWN” ENFORCEMENT OP PLANNED WEDNESDAY
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be cracking down on violators of the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law on Wednesday.
DPS has put on these enforcement operations throughout the year across Texas, with several more planned in December. One of these operations will take place in the Bryan District throughout the day on Wednesday. The Department of Transportation will be participating in a non-enforcement capacity.
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. These include EMS, police and fire, TxDOT vehicles and tow trucks.
Specifically, the law says drivers have to 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.
Law violations could result in up to a $200 fine, or to $500 if there is property damage. Violators that cause bodily injury could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, resulting in possible jail time and a max fine of $2,000.
Preliminary data from January through October shows that DPS issued more than 35,000 warnings and citations to violators.
Moving over and slowing down sounds like common courtesy to me.
Did you know it’s “move over OR slow down?” Why do so many people move over AND slow down, creating a rolling road block for everyone behind them? While I’m glad DPS is doing this enforcement exercise, I wish they would also do one for those who insist on driving in the left lane while not passing.
Thank you Tidbit, I am so sick of slow moving vehicles occupying the left lane creating traffic jams behind them. The law is simple, the left lane if for passing, if you are not passing move over. Many people feel because they are driving the posted speed limit they can occupy (HOG) the left lane, they are wrong and are breaking the law. I would love to see some tickets issued for this!