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Expansion Of ‘Move Over’ Law Takes Effect

Accident scenes can be eye-catching when passing by in a vehicle.

But driving too close or too fast to a parked police or emergency vehicle displaying its lights is not only dangerous, but illegal.

On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the expansion of New York’s “Move Over” law, which includes protecting volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, is now in effect.

The law, which Cuomo signed last year, requires drivers to slow down and move over a lane when approaching a vehicle displaying blue or green lights that are operated by volunteer firefighters or ambulance workers involved in a roadside emergency.

“Everyday, these firefighters and ambulance workers put their well-being on the line to help their neighbors and their communities,” Cuomo said. “This new law and outreach campaign will offer these brave New Yorkers additional protections that will help ensure they are able to carry out their critically important jobs, while cracking down on avoidable and reckless hazards.”

Julius Leone, director of Chautauqua County Emergency Services, said the law previously only applied to drivers approaching stopped police, emergency or hazard vehicles with flashing red and white or amber lights. The inclusion of volunteer first responders, he said, will only keep more people safe.

“In a car accident scene, people are really interested in what’s going on and sometimes they get distracted,” said Leone, in an earlier interview. “I’ve been at scenes where cars are coming pretty close to me. So now that the law says to move over for blue lights … it will be a lot safer for our folks at the scene of an incident.”

Those who violate the “Move Over” law could face a fine of $150 to $400 and up to 45 days in jail. Repeat offenders could face harsher penalties.

In November 2016, the New York State Police conducted a five-day enforcement campaign of the “Move Over” law. The campaign, which ran from Nov. 14-18, yielded 230 tickets for violations — four times the norm for a typical one-week span.

Violations were the highest in the Hudson Valley region with 96 tickets issued. The Central New York region yielded 60 tickets, while the Capital and Western New York regions yielded 57 and 17 tickets, respectively.

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