1 Year Anniversary Since Move-Over Law Enacted
By: Ali Touhey
Updated: January 11, 2013
Driving by an emergency vehicle? It's simple. Move over or risk getting pulled over.
"The door actually opens into traffic and the officer actually steps out into traffic," said New York State Trooper David Cerretto as he watched another trooper, who had someone pulled over, exit his vehicle during a ride along on Friday.
The law requires drivers to move to the center lane if there is an emergency vehicle parked along the side of the road. The purpose is to make the roads safer for everyone including New York State Trooper David Cerretto. He says people are complying for the most part.
"You can actually look back at traffic and see that traffic is funneling over to the center lane," said Trooper Cerretto. "It ensures me that they can actually see me."
Of course there are those, it seems, who don't. Troop E has issued 781 tickets since the law took effect on January 1, 2011. Cerretto said one of the most difficult parts is enforcing it.
"For us to finish what we're doing, get back into our car, and catch up to that vehicle is very hard," he said.
Cerretto says often times troopers will work together to catch the violator. He also admits sometimes conditions don't allow vehicles to move over and they take that into account when they pull you over. Motorists we spoke with agree with the law.
"I usually move over anyway. To me, it's just courtesy," Brannon Hungness of Greece said.
"Give them all the room they need," added Rochester resident Bob Cummings.
Because if you don't, the penalties aren't pretty. Tickets carry three points on your license and a $150 fine.
"The door actually opens into traffic and the officer actually steps out into traffic," said New York State Trooper David Cerretto as he watched another trooper, who had someone pulled over, exit his vehicle during a ride along on Friday.
The law requires drivers to move to the center lane if there is an emergency vehicle parked along the side of the road. The purpose is to make the roads safer for everyone including New York State Trooper David Cerretto. He says people are complying for the most part.
"You can actually look back at traffic and see that traffic is funneling over to the center lane," said Trooper Cerretto. "It ensures me that they can actually see me."
Of course there are those, it seems, who don't. Troop E has issued 781 tickets since the law took effect on January 1, 2011. Cerretto said one of the most difficult parts is enforcing it.
"For us to finish what we're doing, get back into our car, and catch up to that vehicle is very hard," he said.
Cerretto says often times troopers will work together to catch the violator. He also admits sometimes conditions don't allow vehicles to move over and they take that into account when they pull you over. Motorists we spoke with agree with the law.
"I usually move over anyway. To me, it's just courtesy," Brannon Hungness of Greece said.
"Give them all the room they need," added Rochester resident Bob Cummings.
Because if you don't, the penalties aren't pretty. Tickets carry three points on your license and a $150 fine.
