State troopers stop 500 violators of ‘Move Over’ law during recent emphasis

Between 2007 and 2014, 212 Washington State Patrol vehicles were struck while conducting traffic stops or providing motorist assistance.

December 8, 2015 5:36 pm
On Nov. 28
On Nov. 28

Between 2007 and 2014, 212 Washington State Patrol vehicles were struck while conducting traffic stops or providing motorist assistance.

Three troopers and multiple citizens have been injured in collisions over the last seven years, as a result of vehicles either striking the trooper or a parked emergency vehicle, including the following recent incidents:

• At 11:23 p.m on Dec. 7, a driver plowed into the back of a patrol car while a Washington State Patrol trooper investigated a collision blocking the HOV lane along Southbound I-5 at Tully’s. No one was injured. This is the fourth trooper‘s patrol car hit since Nov. 28.

• At 6:50 a.m. on Nov. 28, a trooper received minor injuries while sitting in his patrol car that was struck from behind while he was investigating a collision along Westbound 18 to South I-5 in Federal Way.

• At 10:53 p.m. on Dec. 1, a patrol car was struck while the trooper investigated a collision on Northbound 1-5 just south of 175th King County.

s

• At 7 p.m. on Dec. 5, a patrol car was hit along Westbound Interstate 90 at mile post 60, about 10 miles west of Easton.

s

From Oct. 27-29, troopers conducted a state-wide emphasis patrol to increase awareness of the “Move Over” law. During the emphasis, troopers stopped and contacted over 500 violators of the law, issuing 34 tickets and nine written warnings.

The goal of the emphasis was to remind drivers of the law. If you see police, fire, medical, tow trucks or vehicles providing roadside assistance, making use of hazard lights, move over or slowdown. As of Nov. 30, troopers have stopped over 3,800 violators of the Move Over law.

According to the Move Over law, RCW 46.61.212, drivers approaching an emergency zone are required to either move over to another lane in the same direction, if it is safe to do so, or if a driver is unable to move over safely, proceed with caution and reduce the speed of their vehicle. Emergency vehicles include police, fire, medical, tow trucks and vehicles providing roadside assistance, making use of hazard lights.

This is a nationwide problem, according to the Washington State Patrol. In 2014, Washington troopers stopped over 4,000 violators of the Move Over law.