Move Over!

Pay attention or prepare to pay up
The next time you pull out of the driveway give more than just a casual glance to the vehicles parked on the side of the road—Alabama's newly reenacted Move Over Law is in effect.

Interstate and four-lane highways
When a law enforcement vehicle or emergency vehicle is parked with its lights flashing or a wrecker with flashing amber lights is loading a vehicle roadside on an interstate or a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of these vehicles, drivers must safely vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement vehicle, emergency vehicle or wrecker. If it is not safe to move over, you must slow to a speed at least 15 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

Two-lane roads
When a law enforcement vehicle or emergency vehicle is parked with its lights flashing or a wrecker with flashing amber lights is loading a vehicle roadside on a two-lane road, drivers must move as far away as possible from the vehicle without crossing into oncoming traffic and must slow to a speed that is 15 miles per hour below the posted speed limit when the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or higher or when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or lower you must slow to 10 miles per hour.

Penalties
The good news is that until February 1, 2010 violators will receive only warning citations. Subsequent to that date, drivers in violation of the Move Over Law will face a $25 fine for a first offense, a $50 fine for a second violation and a $100 fine for a third or subsequent violation. Court costs associated with the fines will make it worth your while to pay attention and be prepared to move over!
—Jason Manasco, legal counsel, Alabama State Employees Association
(This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Insider.)

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