Drivers face harsher penalties for violating state?s move over law

Motorists who fail to make room on Tennessee roads for emergency vehicles and law enforcement now face fines as high as $500.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, state safety and transportation officials, the Tennessee Trucking Association and local law enforcement unleashed a statewide media blitz Friday to inform drivers of the new ?move over? law penalties.

Drivers caught violating the law now face fines of between $100 and $500, up from $50, and up to 30 days in jail.

?We encourage drivers to use courtesy and a little common sense,? Tennessee Highway Patrol Col. Mike Walker said at a news conference in Chattanooga. ?I do not want to tell another family their loved one was killed by a careless driver.?

The law, which was enacted in 2004, requires drivers to move over a lane if there are police, emergency or service vehicles on the shoulder of the road. If drivers cannot safely move over, they are required to slow down until they pass the site.

It applies to stopped law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, tow trucks, state HELP trucks and vehicles belonging to companies contracted by state or local government.

Since the law was enacted, THP personnel have ticketed about 2,000 drivers.

Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, and Rep. Joe Fowlkes, D-Cornersville, sponsored the initial law and this year pushed for increased fines for violators.

“With the increase in penalties, we’ve put some real teeth into the move over law,” Jackson said.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Rodney Redmon was at the scene of an accident on the shoulder of Interstate 75 in Loudon County when he was hit by a woman who was allegedly drunk.

?I?m lucky. I survived being struck by a car. If it had been a larger vehicle that hit me, I would not be here talking today,? Redmon said at a press conference in Bristol. ?Move Over violators are playing Russian roulette with people?s lives, and I?m going to do everything I can to stop them.?

But not all drivers are happy with the penalty changes.

?They (law enforcement) should just follow the person they?re pulling over to the next exit,? said John Tittle, 54, of Erwin. ?I think $500 is ridiculous.?