Florida Highway Patrol to drivers: Move over!

By Laura C. Morel
Crime/Immigration Reporter

"Law enforcement officers will be out in force, issuing citations for violations, so drivers beware!"

That was the message the Florida Highway Patrol released Friday as the agency joins forces with two other states to keep an eye out for Move Over law violators.

The Move Over law, established about 10 years ago, requires drivers to move to the next lane when there is an officer or any other emergency vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. If the driver can't switch lanes, then they must drive 20 miles per hour below the speed limit in that area.

Fun fact: Washington D.C. and Hawaii are the only areas that don't have this law.

Since 1999, more than 170 officers have died in the United States after being struck by a car, the release said, and thousands have been injured.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Georgia State Patrol are also part of the month-long initiative.