State Police “Move Over Law” Enforcement Oct. 21

Updated: Oct. 23.
The Maryland State Police conducted a variety of traffic initiatives throughout the state on Oct. 21 to enforce and to educate drivers about the ‘Move Over’ law. Preliminary results revealed that troopers conducted approximately 1,411 traffic stops during the 24 hour period. Of those stops, approximately 335 citations and 484 warnings were issued for violations of the ‘Move Over’ law.

Troopers also made 20 criminal arrests while issuing an additional 476 citations and 409 warnings for other traffic violations. There were 97 repairs orders issued as well.

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State troopers across Maryland will be conducting coordinated traffic initiatives on Oct. 21, reminding motorists of the importance of the ‘move over” law. According to Maryland State Police (MSP), special enforcement operations will be underway in every area of the state and drivers should be alert for these operations.

On Oct. 6 a trooper was struck and critically injuried while backing up a colleague on a traffic stop. In a separate incident, another trooper’s car was destroyed by drivers who failed to move over after seeing emergency lights.

It is hoped this awareness initiative will remind drivers to be aware of police and emergency workers stopped on the roads and to move away from them or slow down as they pass by the traffic stop or incident scene.

• Violation of the ‘move over’ law is a primary offense with a fine of $110 and one point.
• If the violation contributes to a traffic crash, the fine is $150 and three points.
• If the violation contributes to a traffic crash resulting in death or serious injury, the fine is $750 and three points.

The intent of the ‘move over’ law is to provide an extra barrier of safety for police officers, firefighters, and emergency rescue personnel working on Maryland roads.

The law requires drivers approaching from the rear of a stopped emergency vehicle with it lights activated, to change into an available lane not next to the emergency vehicle. This movement should only be done if safe to do so. When there is no available lane for drivers to move over into, such as on a single lane road, drivers are required to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed as they pass the emergency scene.

After one trooper was struck and critically injured and another trooper’s car was destroyed within four days, it is clear to Maryland State Police that drivers need to be reminded about the state’s ‘move over’ law, which is intended to increase safety for police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel when they are working along Maryland roads.

According to MSP, early on the morning of Oct. 6, Trooper Jacqueline Kline was struck by a passing vehicle while she was assisting another trooper on the shoulder of Rt. 100 in Anne Arundel County. The preliminary investigation indicates the driver failed to move over as he passed the two marked police cars with their emergency lights activated. According to police, as of Oct. 18 Trooper Kline remains hospitalized in critical condition.

While investigating a crash on I-695 in Baltimore County on Oct. 12, Trooper First Class Justin Updegraff’s marked patrol car was destroyed when a driver failed to move over or slow down. Tfc. Updegraff was outside his vehicle when it was struck. He did not sustain any injuries.

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