Every driver knows that you have to be cautious whenever you see a vehicle pulled over at the side of the road, whether it's a car with its hazard lights on or an emergency vehicle of some kind. In New York, however, the "Move Over Law" actually requires drivers to do a little more.

What Does the Move Over Law Say?

NYS VTL 1144-a specifically requires drivers to slow down and move one entire lane away from any police cars, ambulances, and other vehicles operated by first-responders. It also requires drivers to do the same if they see a hazard vehicle — which is any vehicle showing amber lights, like tow trucks, sanitation vehicles, and the kinds of trucks operated by roadway maintenance or used during road construction.

The law essentially acknowledges that these trucks are in a prone position that makes them liable to accidents if drivers aren't paying attention. It also serves to protect the people operating those vehicles, since their jobs often require them to step out onto the side of the road or even into the highway itself, at times.

How Much Is the Law Enforced?

New York is quite serious about enforcing its Move Over Law. In 2018 alone, the state's police officers issued over 13,000 tickets for Move Over violations. The fine for a ticket (when it's your first offense) is a hefty minimum of $150, along with an additional two points on your driver's license.

Penalties can, however, be even worse. Depending on the situation (and the inclination of the police officer who pulls you over), you can also be charged with a slew of other offenses, like failure to yield the right of way, improper passing, reckless driving, an unsafe lane change, and speeding. 

Each offense, if you are convicted, comes with additional fines and points against your license, and you can also expect your car insurance to increase due to the moving violation.

Is There Any Defense to a Move Over Law Ticket?

The law specifically requires drivers to change lanes or move over only when it's safe to do so — and that's on the driver to judge. If you didn't have time to move over safely before passing the emergency vehicle or you simply couldn't move over safely due to traffic conditions, that's a reasonable defense. 

Don't allow a Move Over Law ticket ruin your driving record or endanger your license. A skilled traffic ticket attorney can help you explain why moving over wouldn't have been safe at the time you passed the emergency vehicle and fight your ticket in court. 

If you need help with a traffic ticket, contact a traffic attorney in your area.

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